The channel launched as RTÉ News Now available exclusively online on 12 June 2008.

The channel was made available since May 2010 on train services within Dublin city and surrounding regions under a special agreement between CIÉ and RTÉ.

Since October 29, 2010 the channel is available free-to-air to 98% of homes throughout the Republic of Ireland through Saorview.

Upon the announcement in February 2011[8] that RTÉ News NOW would become a permanent fixture to the Saorview line-up a number of media organizations criticized such a move claiming RTÉ would continue to have a monopoly over news output within Ireland.

[4] In 2022 RTÉ Radio developed two visual news rooms from which Morning Ireland and This Week broadcast from.

The channel also airs the latest breaking news stories from Ireland and around the world.

During other periods, live current affairs programmes such as Prime Time are shown.

Outside of these hours the most recent show is repeated, looped, unless interrupted by live feeds of breaking news stories.

The channel provides analysis of breaking news stories domestically and internationally.

On 9 February 2009 RTÉ News received a major revamp, with a new 'walk-around' studio, new music, titles and graphics.

On 25 May 2011 RTÉ News Now revamped its on-screen identity giving viewers more detailed content.

[5] The channel is available nationwide as of 29 October 2010 on Saorview, Ireland's national digital terrestrial service.

[18] It was announced on 19 May 2010 that RTÉ News Now would begin appearing on Transvision digital screens in the main Dublin Bus and Train stations (Heuston, Connolly, Pearse and Busaras).

On Thursday 17 April 2014[20] RTÉ News Now launched a new app for both iPhone and Android.

A press conference chaired by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team, initially each weekday evening, then twice weekly, was broadcast, as it often coincided with the Six One News on RTÉ One, so the RTÉ News channel would broadcast the press conference, then follow that with a re-broadcast of the Six One News.