Howard Stern, the longtime radio powerhouse who famously calls himself the “king of all media,” has lost one of his SiriusXM channels after a bruising stretch marked by layoffs, a reduced weekly schedule and criticism from former staffers who described the operation as “ruthless.”
The 72-year-old broadcaster, who last month brought a legal battle with a former assistant to an end, has seen his Howard 101 channel removed from the SiriusXM lineup.
Until now, Stern’s presence on the platform was split across two dedicated stations: Howard 100, reserved for new and current programming, and Howard 101, which carried archival clips, classic interviews and past highlights from his long-running show.
In a move likely to sting for Stern fans, the 101 slot is being handed to one of his media rivals, Bravo executive and Radio Andy host Andy Cohen.
SiriusXM confirmed the reshuffle in a blog post on Friday, saying: “SiriusXM is updating its channel lineup beginning Sept. 1, with new channel numbers for a variety of sports, entertainment, comedy, news, talk, and music channels.
“Among the most notable changes, Radio Andy moves from Ch. 102 to Ch. 101, while Howard 100 remains on Ch. 100 and Howard 101 leaves the lineup.”
Howard Stern, the self-styled “king of all media,” has lost his Howard 101 channel following layoffs, a reduced schedule and criticism over his management style; he is pictured in January 2014
The channel change follows reports in July that Stern was preparing to cut back to just one new show per week this fall, a shift that prompted the veteran radio host to lay off roughly 12 employees.
‘He just doesn’t need that much content anymore,’ an insider told Page Six in July of the veteran media personality.
The new shows will begin this fall when Stern comes back from his summer vacation, and the other four days a week will be programmed with past material.
Laid off staffers were informed of the reduction in a Zoom call on July 13, sources told the outlet, noting that they were sent home afterwards.
The staffers will be eligible for severance payments in accordance with their time with the satellite company, the outlet reported.
Our News Outlet has reached out to representatives for Sirius XM for further comment on the story at the time.
News of the reduced schedule and staff drew sharp reactions from longtime listeners last month.
An X/Twitter user under the handle @bringbackjackie, who liveblogs The Howard Stern Show as it airs, told Our News Outlet that the sharp decline in output is tied to the departure of former SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer in 2020, and the 2024 passing of Stern’s longtime agent Don Buchwald.
The 72-year-old media personality – who ended a legal war with an ex-assistan t last month – has had his Howard 101 channel has been removed from the SiriusXM lineup. Pictured 2024 in Miami
Perhaps adding insult to injury, Stern has been replaced on the 101 channel by media rival and Bravo boss Andy Cohen (seen in New York on Tuesday)
Both were cited as critical factors that ‘only accelerated Stern’s downfall’ with the company, leading to ‘pay cuts,’ ‘less days worked’ and downsizing the staff.
‘If the Stern Show were a publicly traded company,’ @bringbackjackie said, ‘it would be delisted.’
A user on the Stern Show’s subreddit said, ‘I worshipped Howard back in the day. I didn’t just think he was hilarious – I admired him for always seeming 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 step away overshadowed so much of what made him great in the first place.’
The shift comes about eight months after Stern inked a new three-year deal with SiriusXM – his home for two decades after leaving terrestrial radio – late last year.
‘I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all,’ he said on his program upon inking the pact.
Stern said the deal’s ‘flexibility’ appealed to him, as it offered him ‘more free time and continuing to be on the radio.’
He added, ‘I do like my days off. You know me, I’m never bored. I’m busy every minute.’
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Has Howard Stern damaged his own legacy by refusing to step away from radio in recent years?
Back in July it was revealed that Stern was preparing to scale down to one new show weekly this fall, leading the radio stalwart to lay off around 12 staffers; The veteran media personality pictured in LA in October 2019
Stern has focused on celebrity interviews in recent years, with A-list names such as 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 about what impact she had on his call to come back, while appearing on Andy Cohen Live.
Cohen asked Beth, ‘Every time there’s a renegotiation that comes up with Sirius, what is your role in that? Do you try to steer him in a certain direction?’
Beth said, ‘Yes – and I feel I’m very influential. I feel that it’s very good for him to continue [broadcasting] … he still enjoys doing it; he’s still, I think, very good at it.’
Beth said she feels that her husband continuing with his show – which he has done from home since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic more than six years ago – keeps him ‘connected’ into what’s happening in the world.
