Sesame Street Turns Forty

1969 was a big year for television. Families gathered around their sets to watch the first man walk on the moon. Reports from Vietnam launched a new age of journalism. And American children met a whole new gang of friends.

Sesame Street kicks off its 40th season today. The show certainly has changed over the decades – but those changes aren’t just on-screen. The media landscape surrounding the show is significantly different now than it was in 1969.

Sesame Workshop president and CEO Gary Knell joins us to explain how the show has survived increased competition, changing ideas about child development, and the growing demand for portable media.