Howard Stern is reportedly having a hard time understanding why listeners are unhappy with the major changes surrounding “The Howard Stern Show.”
SiriusXM recently removed his Howard 101 channel, while his longtime radio program is being reduced to just one new live episode each week.
The shakeup has also included significant cutoffs, leaving only a small team behind. However, Howard Stern appears to be looking forward rather than dwelling on the backlash.
Howard Stern Can’t Understand Why Listeners Are So Upset Over SiriusXM Shakeup
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Stern has reportedly been paying close attention to the response surrounding the changes to his longtime radio show. However, sources claim he does not fully understand why fans and former employees are so frustrated.
According to a report, an insider said Stern “reads everything, EVERYTHING, and he wants to control what’s being reported.”
The source added that the broadcaster was “apoplectic” over the negative response to the removal of Howard 101 and the decision to cut his live schedule to one day each week.
For longtime listeners, the disappearance of Howard 101 represented another significant change. The channel had been dedicated largely to older Stern interviews and memorable segments. Howard 100 will remain his sole SiriusXM channel and continue carrying his current program.
Despite the criticism, Stern has previously made it clear that having a lighter workload appeals to him. “I do like my days off,” he said while discussing the flexibility of his latest SiriusXM agreement.
Major Cutoffs Signal A New Era For ‘The Howard Stern Show’
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The removal of Howard 101 is only one part of a much larger overhaul surrounding Stern’s program. SiriusXM officially removed the channel from its lineup on September 1, with Radio Andy taking its former spot.
The changes also included a drastic reduction in the size of Stern’s team, with 56 employees being dismissed in total. This leaves the Howard Team with just nine staff members as the program prepares for its latest phase.
“The Howard Stern Show” would be moved to a single new live broadcast each week. New episodes will air on Monday mornings rather than following the schedule listeners were accustomed to.
Taken together, the staff reductions and loss of Stern’s longtime archival channel, these changes represent a major shift for a show that has maintained a substantial presence for years.
HBO Max Deal Opens A New Chapter For Howard Stern’s Broadcasting Career
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While some listeners are unhappy about the recent changes, Stern appears particularly excited about what comes next.
His new HBO Max agreement will give viewers access to a video version of his weekly SiriusXM program.
Stern described the partnership as an opportunity to finally show audiences 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.”
More About The Shock Jock’s New HBO Max Deal
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Stern’s new deal with HBO Max means viewers will get to see his celebrity interviews, musical guests, and interactions with his staff rather than simply listening to them.
The comedian has called bringing his program to HBO Max a “career highlight.” An insider also claimed he sees the agreement as a victory over critics who believed his broadcasting career was nearing its end.
“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,” the source told the Daily Mail.
The arrangement does not mean Stern is abandoning SiriusXM. His Monday program will continue airing live on the satellite radio service, with the edited video edition arriving on HBO Max later that week.
Howard Stern’s Show Changes Upset Fans But Makes Wife Happier
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While some listeners have struggled to embrace Stern’s reduced schedule, his wife appears to be enjoying one major benefit, which is having her husband around more often.
“It’s actually great for me, because he’s now going to start only working one day a 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, per The Blast.
Beth Stern said the broadcaster’s move to working only one day each week means “more Howard at home.” Rather than seeing the lighter workload as a negative development, she believes it gives Stern a chance to remain professionally active without spending a lot of time working.
According to her, the career shakeup offers the best of both worlds. Stern gets to continue doing the show that has defined much of his career, while his reduced radio commitments leave the couple with considerably more time together at home.