SiriusXM 'parting ways' with Howard Stern's channel 101 after mass layoffs

Ayeesha Walsh Tue, August 11, 2026 at 8:39 AM UTC

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Howard Stern could see more cuts to his on-air content (Image: Getty)

Howard Stern's SiriusXM channel 101 is facing the axe after another round of layoffs at the broadcaster, according to reports.

The channel, which has been dedicated to preserving and replaying material from Stern's long-running radio career, is now reportedly in "grave danger" as SiriusXM continues to slash jobs. Stern currently has two dedicated SiriusXM channels, with Howard 100 home to his live shows and newest material, while Howard 101 features classic interviews, clips and highlights from more than two decades of The Howard Stern Show.

But a major round of job cuts earlier this year is said to have left Howard 101 particularly vulnerable. A source said,"A lot the staff who were laid off in the first round worked for his 101 channel. Those staffers thought since it was a channel focused on Howard's legacy with historical clips and interviews, it would be the home for the archives moving forward." It comes as Howard Stern staff were reportedly told not to speak to the radio host.

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According to the insider, staff had believed the archive would provide some job security even if the legendary broadcaster eventually decided to retire. They thought if Stern were soon to retire, at least the archives would continue, and thus their jobs would be safe.

But that confidence has reportedly been shaken following further cuts. The source continued to The U.S. Sun, "Now, since they gutted the team, it seems more than likely that Sirius will be keeping the main Howard 100 channel and ultimately parting ways with 101."

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Howard is known for his long-running star-studded show (Image: Getty)

The latest concerns come after a second wave of layoffs hit in July. Following the cuts, Stern's team was reportedly informed during a Zoom call that the star would reduce his live shows to just one day a week.

The move has only intensified speculation over the future of his SiriusXM channels, with insiders claiming the reduced amount of fresh material could make the separate archive channel increasingly difficult to justify. The insider claimed that following the announcement, the future for the two channels has become clear.

They said, "Soon, since there is so little new content, production will be forced to fill Howard 100 with archival clips." The developments follow reports that numerous behind-the-scenes members of The Howard Stern Show were quietly dismissed after Stern renewed his SiriusXM contract in December.

The first major round of cuts began on February 12, less than two months after the broadcaster signed a new three-year deal with the streaming giant. Because the initial layoffs focused largely on off-air staff, listeners were initially unlikely to notice the scale of the changes.

At the time one insider said, "They let all these people go, and it was like, 'Nothing to see here,' since none of the people were on the air," while a second claimed the cuts were extensive, adding, "At least 40 people were let go."

Several employees are said to have rejected the company's initial severance package, which was reportedly worth around one week's pay for every year they had worked there. A small number were allegedly able to negotiate more favourable terms.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”