The channel of the self-proclaimed ‘king of all media’, Howard Stern, has been canceled after the radio king was rocked by mass layoffs, scaled back to one new show per week and labeled ‘ruthless’.
The 72-year-old media personality — who ended a legal war with an ex-assistant last month — has removed his Howard 101 channel from the SiriusXM lineup.
Previously, the media star had two channels for his content: Howard 100, which featured his new and fresh material, and Howard 101, which featured past clips and classic interviews.
Perhaps even worse, Stern has been replaced on the 101 channel by media rival and Bravo boss Andy Cohen.
Sirius XM announced the changes in a blog post on Friday read: “SiriusXM is updating its channel lineup starting September 1, with new channel numbers for a variety of sports, entertainment, comedy, news, talk and music channels.
‘One of the most striking changes is that Radio Andy is switching from Ch. 102 to Ch. 101, while Howard 100 on Ch. 100 and Howard 101 leave the lineup.”
The channel of the self-proclaimed ‘king of all media’, Howard Stern, has been canceled after the radio king was rocked by mass layoffs, scaled back to one new show per week and labeled as ‘ruthless; he is seen January 2014’
In July, it was revealed that Stern was preparing to ramp up one new show per week this fall, forcing the station to lay off about a dozen employees.
“He just doesn’t need that much content anymore,” an insider said Page six in July from the veteran media personality.
The new shows will begin this fall when Stern returns from his summer vacation, and the remaining four days a week will be programmed with material from the past.
Laid-off staffers were informed of the reduction on a Zoom call on July 13, sources told the outlet, noting they were sent home afterward.
The staffers will be eligible for severance packages commensurate with their time with the satellite company, the outlet reported.
The Daily Mail contacted Sirius XM representatives at the time for further comment on the story.
News of the reduced schedule and staff drew sharp reactions from loyal listeners last month.
An X/Twitter user below the handle @bringbackjackiewho live blogs The Howard Stern Show as it airs, told the Daily Mail that the sharp decline in production is tied to the departure of former SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer in 2020 and the death of Stern’s longtime agent Don Buchwald in 2024.
The 72-year-old media personality — who ended a legal war with an ex-assistant last month — has removed his Howard 101 channel from the SiriusXM lineup. Pictured in 2024 in Miami
Perhaps even worse: Stern has been replaced on the 101 channel by media rival and Bravo boss Andy Cohen (to be seen Tuesday in New York)
Both were cited as critical factors that “only accelerated Stern’s demise at the company,” leading to “pay cuts,” “fewer days worked” and workforce reductions.
“If the Stern Show was a publicly traded company,” said @bringbackjackie, “it would be taken private.”
A user on the Stern Show’s subreddit said, “I used to idolize Howard. Not only did I find him hilarious; I admired him because he always seemed to make the right moves and say the right things. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see what happened to his legacy.
“He could have walked away as an undisputed legend, but instead he overstayed his welcome by at least a decade. It feels like his inability to distance himself overshadowed much of what made him great in the first place.”
The shift comes about eight months after Stern signed a new three-year deal late last year with SiriusXM — his home for two decades after leaving terrestrial radio.
“I am happy to announce that I have found a way to get everything,” he said on his program when he signed the pact.
Stern said he liked the “flexibility” of the deal because it gave him “more free time and the ability to stay on radio.”
He added: “I love my days off. You know me, I’m never bored. I’m busy every minute.’
In July, it was revealed that Stern was preparing to scale back to one new show per week this fall, forcing the station to lay off about a dozen staffers; The veteran media personality pictured in LA in October 2019
Stern has focused on celebrity interviews in recent years, with A-list names like Cher. Pictured 2024
News of the reduced schedule and staff drew sharp reactions from longtime listeners
Prior to the 2025 contract, Stern’s most recent deal was for five years and $500,000,000, Page Six reported.
In May, Stern’s wife Beth, 53, was asked what impact she had on his call to return while appearing on Andy Cohen Live.
Cohen asked Beth, “Every time there’s a renegotiation with Sirius, what’s your role in it? Are you trying to steer him in a certain direction?’
Beth said, “Yes – and I feel like I’m very influential. I think it’s very good for him to continue [broadcasting] … he still does it with great pleasure; he’s still very good at it, I think.’
Beth said she feels like her husband continuing his show — which he’s done from home since the coronavirus pandemic began more than six years ago — keeps him “connected” to what’s happening in the world.
