The media baron's Channel 5 business has scored successes in the past year, but he faces tough challenges at his print titles
*Job:* chairman, Northern & Shell; proprietor, Express Newspapers
*Age:* 61
*Industry:* publishing, broadcasting
*2012 ranking:* 16
Richard Desmond's Channel 5, buoyed by its reality show Big Brother, recently beat Channel 4 in the weekly ratings for the first time (although the figures are disputed).
Desmond has improved the fortunes of the fifth channel, which he bought from RTL for just over £100m three years ago. It grew its audience last year but it could not stop losses of £16m.
The Channel 5 owner was said to have quietly taken soundings on the value of the broadcaster, just like he did with his print assets two years ago.
Tough times at the Daily Express and Daily Star, where circulations have continued to slide despite a summer bounce at the Star linked to – guess what? – Big Brother.
Desmond's celebrity magazines have also suffered – OK!, Star and New – and his TV listings magazine, Pick TV, closed after just 22 issues.
He sold his soft-porn magazines in 2004 (but still owns his adult TV channels). Desmond launched the Health Lottery two years ago and now has designs on running the National Lottery.
His year will be always be remembered – for those who witnessed it at least – for his furious bust-up with Lord Sugar. which saw the star of BBC1's The Apprentice abruptly quit as chair of online TV service YouView.Desmond's Northern and Shell made an operating loss of £5.6m last year, down from a £20.8m deficit in 2011. Reported by guardian.co.uk 54 minutes ago.
*Job:* chairman, Northern & Shell; proprietor, Express Newspapers
*Age:* 61
*Industry:* publishing, broadcasting
*2012 ranking:* 16
Richard Desmond's Channel 5, buoyed by its reality show Big Brother, recently beat Channel 4 in the weekly ratings for the first time (although the figures are disputed).
Desmond has improved the fortunes of the fifth channel, which he bought from RTL for just over £100m three years ago. It grew its audience last year but it could not stop losses of £16m.
The Channel 5 owner was said to have quietly taken soundings on the value of the broadcaster, just like he did with his print assets two years ago.
Tough times at the Daily Express and Daily Star, where circulations have continued to slide despite a summer bounce at the Star linked to – guess what? – Big Brother.
Desmond's celebrity magazines have also suffered – OK!, Star and New – and his TV listings magazine, Pick TV, closed after just 22 issues.
He sold his soft-porn magazines in 2004 (but still owns his adult TV channels). Desmond launched the Health Lottery two years ago and now has designs on running the National Lottery.
His year will be always be remembered – for those who witnessed it at least – for his furious bust-up with Lord Sugar. which saw the star of BBC1's The Apprentice abruptly quit as chair of online TV service YouView.Desmond's Northern and Shell made an operating loss of £5.6m last year, down from a £20.8m deficit in 2011. Reported by guardian.co.uk 54 minutes ago.