TM
History · Running
The Mega-Brands That Built America
Drama, Thriller, History · 2023 · Rated 6.8/10
Last aired: S4 E6, Rise of the Personal Computer · 2026-09-06
The Mega-Brands That Built America is the newest series in History's "That Built" franchise, telling the origin stories of some of the most successful businesses in history: from mega-stores like Costco and Walmart to sporting goods giants like Spalding and Wilson, titans like Ivory Soap, Schick and Gillette, to shipping giants like Fedex and UPS, and countless more of the biggest brand names in history. Each story is told through the "That Built" franchises' signature blend of expert interviews and archival, mixed with original premium recreations. Through the eyes of the visionaries and entrepreneurs behind the brands, the series takes viewers on a journey; starting with how it all began, following the innovations, the failures, and all the incredible achievements that forever changed the way Americans live. It's everything you didn't know about the colossal brands you know so well.
Season 4
E1
Road Warriors
2026-08-02 · 62 min
During WWII, a struggling automaker and Detroit's industry titan race to build a revolutionary all-purpose military vehicle, then spend decades battling to reinvent their wartime creation into America's most popular type of car: the SUV.
E2
The Game Makers
2026-08-09 · 62 min
Mark Goodson and Merv Griffin wage a three-decades battle to reinvent the television game show, creating iconic franchises with spinning wheels, buzzers, and catchphrases that become ingrained in American culture.
E3
Ideas That Stick
2026-08-16 · 62 min
A husband's homemade bandage, a college dropout's breakthrough adhesive, and a factory worker's wartime fix transform simple strips of tape into indispensable American icons — creating a $90 billion industry, one sticky invention at a time.
E4
Racing to the Top
2026-08-23 · 62 min
A down-on-his-luck mechanic transforms outlaw moonshine racing into one of America's biggest spectator sports, overcoming powerful rivals, deadly setbacks, and financial crises to build a billion-dollar sports empire.
E5
The Underwear Boom
2026-08-30 · 62 min
P.H. Hanes sparks a revolution in American underwear, but rivals answer with breakthrough designs, bold branding, and a wartime windfall—transforming an unmentionable necessity into a $100 billion global industry.
E6
Rise of the Personal Computer
2026-09-06 · 62 min
A pair of garage tinkerers, a copier company's secret lab, and a college-dropout programmer spark a decades-long battle for the future of computing — shrinking the computer from a room-sized machine to the device billions carry every day.
TV listings and show data from TVmaze.
Campbell Scott
Narrator