Howard Stern Poised for Last Act as SiriusXM Contract Nears End: Plans, Ratings and Possible Streaming Pivot
Zoe Bennett reporting: The facts matter. Here’s what we know so far.
Howard Stern, 71, is reportedly energized by rumors that his long-running SiriusXM show may be winding down, according to multiple insider accounts. With a contract reportedly worth roughly $500 million approaching expiration in a matter of months, sources tell outlets including DailyMail and the New York Post that Stern is in a “bring it on” frame of mind, keen to prove his relevance and to control the narrative of his next move.
Industry sources say Stern is weighing several options, with streaming video platforms such as Netflix or HBO Max named as plausible destinations. The possibility carries precedent: HBO aired Stern’s wide‑ranging two‑hour interview with Bruce Springsteen last year, showing that premium streaming can host his long-form conversations. According to sources, Stern has instructed his camp to prepare contingency plans should SiriusXM decline to re-sign him, and he has told colleagues that any future deal would be a final contract.
This turning point is occurring against a backdrop of sharply diminished radio reach. At its peak, Stern’s audience was estimated at roughly 20 million listeners; current daily listenership figures are reported around 125,000. That decline reflects industry fragmentation and changing media habits, from satellite radio to podcasts and streaming video. Yet sources characterize Stern as adaptive rather than resentful: he has acknowledged the shifting media landscape and insists he has evolved with it.
Staff dynamics add another layer. Several writers and production staffers have reportedly been tempering their output, with at least one long‑time employee telling The Post that many colleagues are “coasting” as they anticipate a potential retirement or forced exit. The same worker suggested staffers are quietly reserving material they could reuse after the show’s end. Whether this is workplace candidness or bargaining pressure, it underscores the practical and financial anxieties inside the Stern operation.
Public perception of Stern’s political stance has also shifted over the past decade. Critics have alleged that Stern has become more openly progressive since publicly supporting Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2015, and some observers say that change has softened his broad cultural appeal. Nevertheless, sources insist Stern thrives on controversy and the unknown, viewing speculation as fuel rather than a threat.
Strategically, a pivot to video streaming would align with broader trends in talent migration. High‑profile interviewers and talk personalities have increasingly leveraged visual platforms to monetize long-format conversations, licensing archival content and producing exclusive specials. For Stern, a curated slate of streaming specials or a serialized interview show could preserve the depth of his interviews while tapping younger, visually oriented audiences.
Financially, any move would need to reconcile Stern’s market value with current audience metrics. A final contract with SiriusXM could bundle production and talent fees while offering the platform exclusive content. Conversely, a streaming deal would likely emphasize rights, global reach and ancillary revenue streams such as ad deals, sponsorships and licensing. Insiders say Stern is mindful of his team’s livelihoods and that keeping staff intact factors heavily into his calculations.
As negotiations and speculation swirl, Stern appears to be leaning into the uncertainty, preparing both ego and enterprise for a potential finale or reinvention. The next few months—contract deadlines, public statements and any formal offers—will determine whether this radio icon signs another concluding deal with SiriusXM or takes his act to a different stage.
Objective reporting, insightful analysis—let’s keep watching which direction the King of All Media takes next.
That wraps up today’s analysis.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and DailyMail, New York Post, The Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
