How did Newton Minow contribute to the modern televised presidential debate format and Sesame Street?

Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, died in his Chicago home at the age of 97. Minow was known for his criticism of American television, famously referring to it as a "vast wasteland". As the head of the FCC, he fought for the progression of public television, including securing funding for Sesame Street and contributing to the creation of the modern televised presidential debate format. Minow was a key influential figure during his time in government in expanding TV's possibilities, according to Ron Simon, curator at the Paley Center for Media. By the early 1960s, nine out of ten households in the US owned a TV set, making it a crucial time in TV development. Minow's impact on television regulation and progress was noticeable long after he left the FCC post he held for two years. He received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 in recognition of his impact on broadcasting.