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Empire of the Air

The Titanic Disaster

Clip: 1/29/1992 | 3m 16sVideo has Closed Captions

The sinking of the Titanic influenced federal law and wireless communications.

On Sunday, April 14, 1912, the Titanic’s distress signals were heard by a nearby ship, allowing passengers in lifeboats to be rescued. Federal law soon required that all large ocean-going vessels to be equipped with wireless for safety reasons. David Sarnoff noted that the Titanic disaster “brought radio to the front.”

01/29/1992 | Expired 01/01/2026

FromKen Burns

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Funding Provided by: General Motors Corporation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting;PBS; the National Endowment for the Humanities

Empire of the Air

The Titanic Disaster

Clip: 1/29/1992 | 3m 16sVideo has Closed Captions

On Sunday, April 14, 1912, the Titanic’s distress signals were heard by a nearby ship, allowing passengers in lifeboats to be rescued. Federal law soon required that all large ocean-going vessels to be equipped with wireless for safety reasons. David Sarnoff noted that the Titanic disaster “brought radio to the front.”

01/29/1992 | Expired 01/01/2026

FromKen Burns

Problems playing video?   | Closed Captioning Feedback

Report a Problem

Before you submit an error, please consult our Video Help page.

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Funding Provided by: General Motors Corporation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting;PBS; the National Endowment for the Humanities

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