HOWARD Stern’s channel 101 is in grave danger of being dropped entirely by SiriusXM, sources have told The U.S. Sun.
The U.S. Sun has learned the majority of Stern‘s SiriusXM staffers who were let go during the first round of layoffs in February were integral to the radio icon’s archival channel.
Stern has two dedicated SiriusXM streaming channels; Howard 100, the home of his live shows and new content, while Howard 101 plays old interviews and clips from his show’s 20-year history.
“A lot the staff who were laid off in the first round worked for his 101 channel,” a source explained.
“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.”
They thought if Stern were soon to retire, at least the archives would continue, and thus their jobs would be safe.
“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,” the source continued.
After a second round of layoffs in July, Stern’s team was told in a Zoom call that their marquee talent would be taking his live shows down to just one day a week.
The insider said that on the heels of that announcement, the future for the two channels has become clear.
“Soon, since there is so little new content, production will be forced to fill Howard 100 with archival clips,” the source said.
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Representatives for Stern’s SiriusXM show did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As The U.S. Sun previously revealed, many behind-the-scenes staff at The Howard Stern Show were quietly let go in the wake of his December SiriusXM contract renewal.
The massive downsizing of Stern’s staff started on February 12, less than two months after the host inked his new three-year deal with the streaming giant.
Because the initial round of layoffs targeted off-air crew, the changes largely flew under the radar for listeners.
“They let all these people go, and it was like, ‘Nothing to see here,’ since none of the people were on the air,” a source pointed out.
Another insider noted that the early February cuts were substantial, claiming, “At least 40 people were let go.”
A second wave hit on July 13, eliminating another 16 jobs.
This time, the pink slips extended to at least five on-air employees.
Negotiating exit packages with SiriusXM human resources proved challenging for many affected staffers.
Several employees reportedly rejected the company’s initial severance offer, which amounted to roughly one week of pay for every year worked, though a few managed to secure better terms.
The sudden shift in format and staff has sparked backlash among long-time listeners, with many threatening to cancel their subscriptions.
