SiriusXM Cancels Howard Stern's Secondary Channel Amid Broad Restructuring
New York, Saturday, 29 August 2026.
SiriusXM will eliminate Howard Stern’s archive channel, Howard 101, on September 1, 2026. The shift follows staff layoffs and Stern’s move to a reduced one-show-per-week broadcasting schedule.
SiriusXM Cancels Howard Stern’s Secondary Channel Amid Broad Restructuring
SiriusXM will eliminate Howard Stern’s archive channel, Howard 101, on September 1, 2026 [1][2][3]. The shift follows staff layoffs and Stern’s move to a reduced one-show-per-week broadcasting schedule [1]. Satellite radio provider SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) has officially discontinued the secondary channel following a strategic restructuring that included laying off dozens of staffers associated with the production [1]. The decision underscores broader cost-cutting initiatives and shifts in content strategy within the media and audio entertainment sector as legacy digital platforms attempt to optimize operating margins amidst heightened competition from podcasting networks [1][3].
Workforce Reductions and Contractual Context
Approximately 12 Howard Stern staffers were laid off via Zoom in mid-July 2026, with affected employees ordered to leave immediately [1][3]. Severance packages were offered based on tenure, with some reports citing one week of pay per year worked [1]. This reduction occurs shortly after Stern signed a three-year contract with SiriusXM in December 2025, following a previous five-year agreement valued at $500 million [1]. The annual value of the previous contract averaged 100 million dollars per year [1]. Additionally, a lawsuit alleging a hostile work environment filed against Stern in April 2026 was dismissed in its entirety by a New York State Supreme Court judge on July 30, 2026 [1][3].
Channel Lineup Realignment
As part of the comprehensive update to its channel lineup effective September 1, 2026, Andy Cohen’s Radio Andy will move from channel 102 to replace Howard 101 on channel 101 [2][3]. Howard 100 will remain active on its current channel assignment [2][3]. The realignment is intended to make room for a number of AM and FM sports radio stations that SiriusXM will begin simulcasting from Audacy at the start of the month [3]. Comedy channels, including Netflix Is A Joke Radio and Comedy Central Radio, will shift to channels 103 through 109 to accommodate the changes [2][3].
Future Broadcasting Schedule and Market Presence
Stern intends to reduce his broadcast schedule to one new show per week, beginning after Labor Day on September 7, 2026 [1]. On August 26, 2026, Stern and his wife Beth made a rare public appearance at a John Mayer SiriusXM performance at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York [1]. Beth Stern noted regarding the schedule change, I think his new schedule is working out really well for him [1]. While Howard 101 leaves the lineup, the company continues to optimize its portfolio, with core music channels remaining largely untouched amidst the programming shifts [3].