It currently offers a wide variety of text, audio, photographic, video, and graphic content to websites, radio, television, and commercial clients in addition to newspapers and its longstanding ally, the Associated Press (AP), a global news service based in the United States.

Initially operating as a distribution network, its first editorial staff came on board during World War I to report on the efforts of Canadian soldiers overseas.

Howe, who was responsible for broadcasting policy, announced that the two wire services must “show their news source is accurate” in order to retain their licenses.

[9][10] In 1944, Press News served 35 of 90 radio stations in Canada, had a five-person staff in Toronto, and an annual budget of CA$90,000.

[11] When Edwards retired in 1971, BN had grown to serve 298 radio and television stations in Canada, and increased to 45 staff and a $2-million budget by 1971.

It had also operated a bureau in London, England, until 2004, has had reporters covering the Canadian mission in Afghanistan since 2002,[2] and delivers news coverage to the West Indies.

The Canadian Press launched breaking news video in 2007, with clips produced specifically for websites and wireless services.

[21] In September 2007, The Canadian Press launched a rebranding campaign in an effort to stay competitive, notably in the wake of the pullout by The CanWest Global's newspaper, television and online news outlets (see below).

All of its services, including radio networks Broadcast News and Nouvelles télé-radio, were rolled into a single brand: The Canadian Press.

[23] In July 2010, a tentative deal was struck between The Canadian Press' three largest stakeholders, CTVglobemedia, Torstar, and Gesca, to transform the newswire from a co-operative into a for-profit entity.