Valley of The Boom

National Geographic
Valley of The Boom

Synopsis

This limited hybrid series takes us from the explosive, game-changing birth of Silicon Valley through the 2001 dot-com bust. Carried by tremendous characters who experienced the rise, fall and revival of tech as we've come to know it, the new hybrid format delivers never-before-told access to their true stories of the technology revolution, which folds into a propulsive character-based scripted drama.

Episodes

Season 1
  • Part 1: Print (Hello, World)

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    Jim Barksdale and team take the ever-expanding Netscape on a road show in search of potential investors. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman struggle to secure financing for their virtual community platform, TheGlobe.com. Michael Fenne changes his physical appearance as he travels across the country to Southern California searching for new opportunities.

  • Part 2: Pseudocode

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    Jim Barksdale (Bradley Whitford) leads Netscape through a successful IPO, making it the dominant browser on the market. Microsoft retaliates, sparking the browser wars. TheGlobe.com continues to grow and finally raises enough money to keep afloat. Michael Fenne (Steve Zahn) excitedly starts a new company that promises to deliver revolutionary streaming technology.

  • Part 3: Agile Method

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    With the browser wars in full swing, Microsoft attacks Netscape. In need of additional financing, TheGlobe.com team hesitates to bring on a potential investor, unconvinced he’ll be a good fit for the company. Using stolen tech, Michael Fenne (Steve Zahn) launches a new company called Pixelon.

  • Part 4: Priority Inversion

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    In the next strike in the browser wars, Microsoft bundles Internet Explorer with every new Windows PC, hitting Netscape hard. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman run on fumes as they juggle IPO prep with managing their expanding startup. As Pixelon prepares for its massive live event iBash, Michael Fenne’s management style grows more erratic!

  • Part 5: Segfault

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    Jim Barksdale (Bradley Whitford) takes drastic measures to reestablish Netscape as a cutting-edge innovator. TheGlobe.com struggles to maintain focus on virtual communities, and Pixelon launches iBash, a massive concert in Vegas with a star-studded lineup, as it introduces its revolutionary streaming technology to the world.

  • Part 6: Fatal Error

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    Jim Barksdale (Bradley Whitford) keeps up with the Microsoft antitrust case. Stephan Paternot (Dakota Shapiro) and Todd Krizelman (Oliver Cooper) are in the throes of trying to save TheGlobe.com as they discover some potentially damaging news. Pixelon’s investors and board members confront Michael Fenne (Steve Zahn), demanding an explanation about their failing tech.