Minow criticized the quality of TV programming in what has become known as his "Vast Wasteland" speech to the National Association of Broadcasters:
"When television is good, nothing -- not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers -- nothing is better.
But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."
Ironically there were only three broadcast channels in those days. Cable and premium channels didn't exist. Imagine what Minow might have said if Jerry Springer was his contemporary. Today, Minow is 85 years old.
