The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1996 as Pulse 24, described as "a 24-hour-a-day specialty television service devoted to news and information, with a focus on southern Ontario local and regional news and information",[1] and launched on March 30, 1998, as CablePulse 24, under the ownership of CHUM Limited, the parent company of CITY-TV and minority partner Sun Media, owner of the Toronto Sun daily newspaper with most programming broadcast out of 299 Queen Street West.

The deal was finalized later that year, with a stipulation that CTV maintain ownership of CHUM's 299 Queen Street West headquarters and studios.

The move was intended to broaden the network's reach as a multi-platform news source, but did not prove successful; Toronto Sun columnist Ted Woloshyn in particular pointed out that the station was simply airing a straight simulcast of CP24 television content that was not properly formatted for radio.

[10][11] As a result, CP24's late-afternoon talk shows, such as Animal House Calls and Hot Property, which had been seen weekdays at 5:15 p.m. were moved to a new 7:15 p.m. time slot on January 26, 2010.

[17] The network broadcast for the first time from the Agincourt complex on November 26, 2024; 299 Queen Street West will continue to serve as a downtown bureau for CFTO and CP24.

[18] As of November 26, 2024, CP24 is based out of 9 Channel Nine Court in Scarborough at Highway 401 and McCowan Road which is also home to several other Bell-owned television stations such as CTV Toronto, USA Network and TSN.

Coinciding with the new studio, CP24 also adopted an updated on-air appearance, replacing the previous blue and gold colour scheme with a red, white and black design.

From its inception prior to its acquisition by CTV, CP24 was closely integrated with CITY-DT's newsroom, which had shared programming, anchors and hosts at the time.

It is not carried on any analogue cable system outside of Central or Southern Ontario, although it is available on direct broadcast satellite and IPTV television providers in some markets.

In addition to the Freeway Management System – COMPASS and RESCU cameras, CP24 operates EYES cameras located at: Since 2008, CP24 has leased a Bell 206L-4 Long Ranger (C-FCTV) news helicopter which can broadcast live at 1500 feet above land; nicknamed Chopper 24, which is supplied by its sister station, CTV Toronto and is painted with CTV's colouring and logo.

CP24 operates a fleet of remote transmission trucks that use digital microwave and satellite uplink systems to do live news reports throughout the region.

Known as "Breaking News Vehicles" the custom-built 2008 Chevrolet Suburbans were outfitted by Frontline Communications of Clearwater, Florida, USA.

On September 27, 2012, CP24 began broadcasting in HD (with the SD feed letterboxed) initially on Bell Fibe TV coinciding with it, a new enhanced on-air appearance.