Howard Stern's long-running secondary channel, Howard 101, has been removed from the SiriusXM lineup as the satellite radio broadcaster updates its programming schedule. The 72-year-old radio personality, who self-dubbed himself the "king of all media," will see his channel replaced by media rival and Bravo executive Andy Cohen.
SiriusXM announced the lineup changes in a blog post on Friday, detailing a broader update set to take effect on Sept. 1 across sports, entertainment, comedy, news, talk, and music channels. Under the new arrangement, Cohen's Radio Andy will move from Channel 102 to Channel 101, while Stern's primary channel, Howard 100, remains on Channel 100.
Previously, Stern maintained two dedicated channels on the satellite platform: Howard 100, which features his fresh and new material, and Howard 101, which served as the home for archive clips and classic interviews.
Schedule reductions and staff layoffs
The removal of Channel 101 follows revelations from July that Stern was preparing to scale down his schedule to one new show per week this fall. The sharp reduction in broadcast output led the radio veteran to lay off approximately 12 staff members.
Laid-off staffers were informed of the workforce reduction during a Zoom call on July 13 and were sent home immediately afterward. An insider told gossip outlet Page Six in July that Stern "just doesn't need that much content anymore." Affected employees will be eligible for severance payments based on their length of service with the satellite company. Representatives for SiriusXM were reached for comment by the Daily Mail at the time of the cuts.
When Stern returns from his summer vacation this fall, his new weekly show will launch, while the remaining four days of the week will be programmed with past material.
The broadcast changes come shortly after the veteran media personality concluded a legal war with a former assistant last month.
Listener reactions and management changes
News of the reduced schedule and staff cuts drew sharp reactions from longtime listeners last month. An X user under the handle @bringbackjackie, who liveblogs The Howard Stern Show as it airs, told the Daily Mail that the sharp decline in output stems from executive changes at SiriusXM and Stern's management team.
According to @bringbackjackie, the downturn is linked to the 2020 departure of former SiriusXM chief executive Jim Meyer and the 2024 death of Stern's longtime agent, Don Buchwald. Both events were cited as critical factors that accelerated Stern's downfall with the company, leading to pay cuts, fewer workdays, and staff downsizing.
"If the Stern Show were a publicly traded company," @bringbackjackie said, "it would be delisted."
Disappointment was also expressed on the Howard Stern Show subreddit, where one listener reflected on Stern's long career. "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," the user wrote, noting that it was 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," the user added. "It feels like his inability to step away overshadowed so much of what made him great in the first place."
Contract history and past deals
The channel shift comes approximately eight months after Stern inked a new three-year contract with SiriusXM late last year. SiriusXM has served as Stern's broadcasting home for two decades following his departure from terrestrial radio.
"I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all," Stern said on his program upon signing the pact. Stern noted that the contract's flexibility appealed to him because it offered more free time while allowing him to stay on the air, adding, "I do like my days off. You know me, I'm never bored. I'm busy every minute."
In recent years, Stern has focused heavily on long-form celebrity interviews with high-profile guests, including singer Cher. Prior to his late 2025 agreement, Stern's previous contract was a five-year deal valued at $500 million, according to Page Six.
Wife Beth Stern on broadcasting future
In May, Stern's 53-year-old wife, Beth Stern, discussed her influence on his career decisions during an appearance on Andy Cohen Live. Host Andy Cohen asked her about her role in contract negotiations, asking if she tries to steer him in a certain direction when renegotiating with SiriusXM.
"Yes, and I feel I'm very influential," Beth said during the broadcast. "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 added that continuing the radio show keeps her husband connected to world events. Stern has presented his show from his home since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic more than six years ago.
