Max Renn is the sleazy president of Civic-TV, a small Toronto-based cable station that specializes in broadcasting sensational and provocative content. In his constant quest for new programming that will attract viewers, Max discovers a pirate broadcast of a show called "Videodrome," which depicts graphic scenes of torture and murder. Intrigued by its potential to captivate an audience and driven by a desire to push the boundaries of acceptable television, Max becomes obsessed with acquiring Videodrome for his network. As he delves deeper into the origins of the show, he encounters Nikki Brand, a sadomasochistic radio host who is equally fascinated by the violent imagery Videodrome presents.

Max's investigation leads him into a dark underworld where the lines between reality and television are blurred. The further he pursues the truth behind Videodrome, the more he becomes enveloped by its influence, experiencing disturbing hallucinations and bodily changes. What starts as a search for groundbreaking content soon spirals into a nightmarish journey as Max encounters a bizarre conspiracy involving mind control, political agendas, and biological manipulation. Struggling to discern the real from the fabricated, his grip on sanity weakens, leaving him to confront the terrifying possibilities of a new, sinister form of media consumption.