Howard Stern hands over one SiriusXM channel to A-lister amid HBO Max deal
Andy Cohen is taking over one of Howard Stern’s longtime SirusXM channels.
The duo confirmed the news during Tuesday’s “Radio Andy” installment, two days after a press release stated “Howard 101 [will] leave the lineup” and Cohen’s show will move from 101 to 102.
Stern, 72, insisted to listeners that they are “not being pranked” — despite he and Cohen, 58, savagely pretending in September 2025 that Stern was retiring.
Cohen referenced last year’s gag on Tuesday, saying, “Last year, we pranked the world. We made everybody think that I was taking over Howard 100. It was the best morning.
“Now, the carrot is being dangled,” the Bravo executive continued. “Radio Andy will be taking over 101. Is this a prank? Am I being pranked?”
Stern, denying this, replied, “Andy has been gracious enough to take over 101 and I have one request: Please continue the tradition of doing a lot of gay antics.”
He told the “Watch What Happens Live” host to “up the gay on air” — and Cohen quipped that the “Howard Stern Show” was “gayer than” his.
Stern added, “I feel Howard 101 is in very capable hands. Enjoy it, take good care of it. And if you blow it, I will be the first one to laugh at you. Don’t screw it up.”
The broadcaster noted that he is “not giving up” Channel 100, while Cohen’s previous Channel 102, meanwhile, will go to Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio.
When Stern and Cohen trolled fans last year, Cohen said Stern had left a big “void” to fill and expressed regret over not doing a “cleaner hand off” with the shock jock.
Stern quickly took over and assured listeners he wasn’t going anywhere.
At the time, Stern had been teasing a “big announcement,” leaving many worried there was truth to rampant retirement rumors.
Stern, however, signed a contract in December 2025 for three more years with the network — but with more “flexibility” since he wants “me time,” he shared.
His show has continued to make headlines this year, from Stern’s ex-assistant filing a bombshell lawsuit against him, which has since been dismissed, to him firing a slew of staffers in July.
News broke Friday that he was dropping Channel 101, with details of his new deal with HBO Max revealed over the weekend ahead of the new season’s Sept. 14 release.
“For the first time, the ‘King of All Media’ will bring his signature, long-running SiriusXM show to HBO Max by adapting his live SiriusXM show into a streamable episode for HBO Max, along with periodic extras,” read the press release Saturday.
“Howard’s new series on HBO Max takes him to the pinnacle of prestige television and gives his fans a long-desired ‘seat in the studio’ to see what they just heard,” it continued.
