Howard Stern Reportedly 'Apoplectic' as Fans Question One-Show Week and Howard 101 Exit at SiriusXM

Huge changes are coming to Howard Stern's popular radio show, but he appears enthusiastic about the changes.

SiriusXM, the satellite radio service that has hosted Stern's uncensored channels, Howard 100 and Howard 101, has removed the latter channel from its lineup. It has also reduced the output of The Howard Stern Show to one new live episode each week. SiriusXM confirmed that new episodes would air on Mondays, with an adapted version available on HBO Max on Thursdays.

While listeners were frustrated by losing access to the show, Stern was enthusiastic about it as his programme prepared to move to HBO Max.

Howard Stern 'Reads Everything' Around Responses to His Show's Changes

Stern has reportedly been keeping himself informed about the response to his show's changes. However, he reportedly struggled to understand why listeners and former employees were upset.

An insider said that Stern 'reads everything, EVERYTHING, and he wants to control what's being reported.' The source said that Stern was 'apoplectic' about the negative response to Howard 101's removal and the decision to cut down the show to one day a week. These comments are attributed to an unnamed source and have not been independently verified.

The channel went dark on 1 September, and fans who tuned in heard Andy Cohen's Radio Andy taking over the slot. Howard 100 will remain on SiriusXM and continue its current programming.

Unlike his fans, Stern seemed content with the decision to scale back his radio show. 'I do like my days off,' he said regarding the flexibility of the new SiriusXM agreement.

New Arrangements for the Howard Stern Show Include Major Staff Layoffs

The decision to remove Howard 101 entirely and overhaul the show led to staff layoffs. Reports have said that 56 employees who worked on the show were dismissed during the restructuring, leaving nine staff members to manage the radio show.

Barrett Media reported that the changes will shrink Stern's radio footprint considerably. Despite this, Stern is enthusiastic about the pivot away from radio as he enters an HBO Max agreement for a video version of his programme.

Stern described the partnership as an opportunity to show more of what happens during his broadcasts.

'For years, my SiriusXM show has offered only brief video peeks,' he said. 'HBO convinced me to pull back the curtain and let the world watch.'

Howard Stern Is Excited for His Show's New Era Even If Listeners Aren't

Stern's new deal with HBO will allow viewers to see his interviews with celebrity guests, musical artists and staff interactions instead of simply listening to them. Stern called this partnership a 'career highlight' and reportedly sees it as a response to critics saying the end of his broadcasting career was on the horizon.

'Howard is in a really good mood with his new HBO deal. He feels that it is a big middle finger to all his critics who either want him done or think that he is done,' an insider said.

The HBO Max partnership does not mean he is leaving SiriusXM. Programming for Stern's show will continue on Monday, with an adapted video edition airing on HBO Max later in the week. SiriusXM confirmed that the HBO Max version will debut on 17 September, with subsequent episodes released on Thursdays.

Howard Stern's wife, Beth, is also pleased with Stern's reduced schedule, as she will get to see her husband more often.

'It's actually great for me, because he's now going to start working only one day each week — so I get more Howard at home, and he's still connected to the world, so it's a win-win for all of us,' Beth explained.

While the changes to The Howard Stern Show leave a lot to be desired for listeners, they appear to suit its host. Stern now gets to continue working on the programme while spending more time with his wife.