In September 1996, CTV Television Network Ltd. (a division of CTV) was granted a broadcast licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for CTV N1, a national English language specialty television service that would broadcast "news, weather and sports reports, as well as business, consumer and lifestyle information",[1] in a 'headline news' format on a 15-minute news wheel.

Under the terms of this licence, the channel broadcast news and information on a 15-minute wheel, beginning a new cycle every 15 minutes using a pre-recorded, server-hosted configuration.

[3] On August 22, 2005, CTV Newsnet unveiled a new, full screen format with a considerably smaller news ticker broadcasting only news headlines, and revamped its late afternoon and primetime programming, with increases to its anchor, reporting and production teams, and a greater emphasis on general news from the main anchor desk, eliminating sports and business coverage.

Earlier in the network's history, weather reports were provided by The Weather Network, which is independently owned, and sports segments were once co-branded with Headline Sports, and then later by CTV Sportsnet, which CTV owned before it acquired TSN.

[7] On December 19, 2011, CTV News Channel underwent a major overhaul which consisted of a new logo, a new on-air presentation designed by Troika Design Group, and a newly renovated studio set as the channel began production in high definition for the first time.

An HD feed was launched on the channel's co-owned Bell Fibe TV service in February 2012.

It simulcasts Your Morning from the main CTV channel on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., CTV National News nightly at 10:00 p.m. and weekends at 11:00 p.m., Question Period with Vassy Kapelos on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. with an encore at 5:00 p.m., and the investigative journalism show W5 on Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

[9] On December 19, 2011, CTV News Channel began broadcasting in high definition, although a dedicated HD feed was not launched until February 16, 2012.