"He's very cost-focused and on the surface at least very successful. Commercially the Daily Express and OK! magazine seem to have thrived under his ownership."

A BRIGHT new era of British television has begun after Richard Desmond, the Chairman of Express Newspapers, bought Channel 5.

It is understood he is already plotting a number of new blockbusting shows.

After securing the deal through his company Northern & Shell, he promised to deliver a new and better era for television in the UK.

Doesn't he own all those late-night phone-in channels where semi-naked brasses flaunt themselves?
That's a bright future and no mistake.

A BRIGHT new era of British television has begun after Richard Desmond, the Chairman of Express Newspapers, bought Channel 5.

SINCE its launch in March 1997, Channel 5 has carved a name for itself in high- quality US drama imports, accessible news and top-rated, on-demand TV shows.

Boasting more than 40 million viewers a month, the channel is the UK home to the world’s most
popular TV show of all time, CSI (Crime Scene Investigation), watched by more than two billion people worldwide.

And Channel 5 bosses famously poached newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky from the BBC at the end of 2007, making her reportedly the highest-paid newsreader in Britain on £1million a year.

At the time, the 37-year- old reporter said the lure of working at the channel had been “too exciting to pass up”. Her enthusiasm attracted more than a million viewers for her debut broadcast on Channel 5 News.

Meanwhile, Channel 5’s award-winning children’s strand Milkshake! has also helped to mould future TV stars, such as The X Factor’s Konnie Huq, who started there before moving to Blue Peter.

Last year, Channel 5 was the first station to introduce British audiences to Golden Globe-nominated American cop series The Mentalist and US sci-fi drama Flash Forward.

It also outbid the BBC in a £300million race to win cult Australian soap Neighbours in 2008. It has shown Australia’s other award-winning soap, Home And Away, since 2001, after pitching successfully for the show against ITV.

Channel 5’s programming is unique in reaching such a broad range of audiences: Milkshake! for pre-teens, The Gadget Show and blockbuster movies for young adults, Home And Away and Neighbours for women and Europa League Football and cricket for male audiences.