Watch "The Lightbulb Moment" for $0 Today
The surprising impact of less-celebrated inventions and the moments of inspiration that made them possible.
Stream hundreds of channels including local sports and news.
Plans start at $84.99/mo
Cancel anytime. Additional taxes, fees and regional restrictions may apply. Prices subject to change.
How to watch
More episodes
"The Lightbulb Moment"
Uncovering the surprising impact of less-celebrated inventions and the moments of inspiration that made them possible.
S1, EP1 "The Hollywood Actress That Laid the Groundwork for WiFi"
During WWII, Actress Hedy Lamarr, deemed the world's most beautiful woman, invented a technology that laid the groundwork for the wireless internet of today.
S1, EP8 "Streaming: The Invention That Revolutionized Streaming Video"
The early days of online video were plagued by low resolution, stamp-sized video, and unbearable buffering times but that changed when a breakthrough technology revolutionized streaming video and set the foundation for the era of Netflix.
S1, EP9 "Interstate: How the Interstate Connected and Divided America"
Dwight Eisenhower's interstate highway system was the biggest infrastructure project of its time, a bold plan to connect all corners of America and boost the post-war economy but it also ended up deepening the divide between rich and poor.
S1, EP11 "Like Button: The Unintended Consenquences of the Facebook Like Button"
When first presented with the like button Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg worried that a quick thumbs up or down would discourage more meaningful online interaction but eventually his team changed his mind and transformed the world.
S1, EP6 "Vanilla: The Bean That Shaped the Future of Food"
In 1841 on the small island of Réunion, a 12-year-old slave did something no one had done before; the vanilla bean takes the world by storm, sparking the artificial flavor revolution and forever changing how we eat.
S1, EP5 "Mauve: The Fake Color That Made Our Modern World"
In 1856, a chemistry student accidentally created a strange substance with a rich purple hue; Mauve takes over the fashion industry, make food look more appetizing, and enable stunning advances in medicine.
S1, EP4 "Florida: How Real Estate Rogues Invented Florida as We Know It"
Florida wasn't always the Sunshine State; in the 1920s, an army of real estate boosters set out to redefine Florida from an economic backwater to a ritzy vacation destination, sparking a land boom the likes of which America had never seen before.
More documentary shows
See all
Dateline
"Dateline" has been a staple of the newsmagazine genre since premiering in 1992. Given how long it's been on the air, the show has an extensive archive of in-depth news stories and investigative journalism. This syndicated version offers viewers another chance to watch some of the show's previous content, serving up real-life mysteries and in-depth investigations from the show's 20-plus years on the air. Cases involving murders and missing people are frequent topics on the series that has won multiple Emmys in the news and documentary category.
30 for 30
As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, ESPN looks back at notable sports happenings that occurred from 1979 to 2009 with this documentary series featuring 30 films from some of Hollywood's finest directors and producers. Peter Berg, Barry Levinson, John Singleton, Spike Jonze, Dan Klores, Barbara Kopple, Ron Shelton and Albert Maysles are among the filmmakers involved, and the stories told include the shocking trade of Wayne Gretzky in 1988, the Baltimore Colts' nighttime move in 1984, Reggie Miller's rivalry with the New York Knicks, the death of Len Bias in 1986, a profile of George Steinbrenner and his family business, and a look at Michael Jordan's attempt at a baseball career. A new series of 30 films premiered in October 2012 with "Broke," about the challenges athletes face in managing their money.
Forensic Files
Eagle-eyed technical experts prove there is no such thing as a perfect crime as they assemble the pieces every criminal leaves behind. Dramatic crime re-creations and, sometimes, part of the investigations are a staple of the series. Some of the re-creations include alternate versions of the crimes, which are disproved by science. The show's episodes follow each case from the initial investigation until it reaches its legal resolution.
The Americas
Tom Hanks narrates a 10-episode television event from the executive producers of Planet Earth, exploring the extraordinary worlds and wildlife of North and South America. Scored by composer Hans Zimmer, the breathtaking journey follows amazing creatures living in their natural habitats across the supercontinent, including diverse terrains like the Atlantic Coast, Mexico, Wild West, Amazon, Frozen North, Gulf Coast, Andes, Caribbean, West Coast and Patagonia. Each location comes alive in never-before-seen footage showing the unique connectedness of the land that millions of people call home.
