Northern & Shell was founded in December 1974 as the publisher of the music magazine International Musician and Recording World. The company Northern & Shell Media Group has experienced almost four decades of expansion, becoming a significant force in British and worldwide media, with a portfolio including newspapers, magazines and television. Northern & Shell launched OK! Magazine in 1993, acquired Express Newspapers in November 2000, Channel 5 in July 2010 and The Health Lottery in February 2011. It is also a shareholder in YouView. Northern and Shell sold Channel 5 in 2014 and its publishing assets in 2018 but continues to operate The Health Lottery. Northern & Shell is determined to maintain all its products and activities as benchmarks of excellence to its customers and business partners.