Last week, the big media story was that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was being canceled. This week, it’s Howard Stern’s turn.
Stern is reportedly less than pleased with what Sirius XM is willing to pay for his show going forward, and the network is discouraged by Stern’s dwindling audience, so they’re on a collision course that could very well lead to the end of the show.
From Yahoo Entertainment:
Howard Stern’s Long-Running Show Reportedly On The Chopping Block, Leaving Staff Alarmed After 20 YearsHoward Stern may be retiring from SiriusXM after 20 years, as insiders claim the network won’t meet his salary demands.While talks over his audio library may continue, a return to live broadcasting is unlikely. Political tensions, especially Stern’s criticism of Donald Trump, may also play a role.Fans are divided, with some praising his evolution and others blaming his political stance and AGT stint for the show’s decline. Howard Stern first rose to fame in the 1980s and became a radio icon.After 20 years on SiriusXM, “The Howard Stern Show” may soon “be canceled,” sources revealed to The U.S. Sun.According to insiders, Stern’s long-standing and lucrative contract with the satellite radio giant is set to expire this fall, and SiriusXM has no plans to renew it at the price point Stern is expected to demand.”Stern’s contract is up in the fall, and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don’t intend for him to take it,” one source claimed. “Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It’s no longer worth the investment.”While negotiations over Stern’s massive audio library could still be on the table, the same source emphasized that a return to live broadcasting is unlikely: “But as far as him coming back to doing the show, there’s no way they can keep paying his salary.”
Stern and Colbert actually have a few things in common. Both men allowed their pathological hatred of Trump to transform them; they both helmed media institutions, and they both got to a point where their massive salaries were no longer sustainable based on their reach.
In Stern’s case, it’s particularly sad as he used to be such a great voice for the counterculture, the outsider. In the age of Trump, Stern embraced the establishment and defended it with cringetastic results.
His 2024 interview with Joe Biden is barely watchable.
Last word goes to Glenn Beck.
Featured image via YouTube.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY