Former U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chair Newton Minow, who lambasted television as a 'vast wasteland' more than 60 years ago and challenged the broadcast world to come up with imaginative alternatives, died on Saturday at the age of 97, his daughter Nell Minow said on Twitter.
Former Federal Communications Commission Chair Newton Minow is pictured in undated file photo./File PhotoS.S. Minnow in "Gilligan's Island" was named for himMay 7 - Former U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chair Newton Minow, who lambasted television as a "vast wasteland" more than 60 years ago and challenged the broadcast world to come up with imaginative alternatives, died on Saturday at the age of 97, his daughter Nell Minow said on Twitter.
He bemoaned the parade of game shows, violence, "formula comedies about totally unbelievable families" and "screaming, cajoling and offending" commercials that viewers were subjected to and "most of all, boredom." Minow's speech, coming at a time when television viewing was generally limited to three networks, challenged broadcasters to come up with "excellence, not mediocrity."
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