Clear Channel has left the decision about streaming to its local managers, who decide if they can find a viable business plan to make internet streaming profitable, or at least break even.

After changes in the management of Clear Channel, the new Vice President for New Technology, Brian Parsons, says the company’s various vendor deals make it “really cheap” for stations to stream – especially those with news/talk formats.

Some time ago, with the stations facing additional licence fees for both music and voiceover talent who wanted more money for being ‘heard all over the world,’ the Clear Channel network unplugged all its streaming so it could avoid the additional costs.

With its new policy, the company is finding that two thirds of its streaming stations are now making money from the internet streams.