SiriusXM is dropping one of two channels dedicated to Howard Stern’s radio universe.
In a note sent to subscribers on Friday, SiriusXM said the channel, Howard 101, will be closing on September 1 as part of a broader reorganization of the company’s programming.
Andy Cohen’s radio channel, Radio Andy, will move from SiriusXM Channel 102 to Channel 101 as part of the realignment, the radio broadcaster said. Cohen has been viewed by some radio industry insiders as Stern’s spiritual successors should the self-proclaimed “King of All Media” retire at the end of his current contract.
SiriusXM will continue offering Stern’s live show and related programming on Howard 100, available on SiriusXM Channel 100.
The realignment is intended to make room for a number of AM and FM sports radio stations that SiriusXM will begin simulcasting from Audacy at the start of the month. Some sports stations will be offered from SiriusXM Channels 94 to 99, while four others will be available on SiriusXM Channel 169 to 172.
Comedy channels like Netflix is a Joke Radio and Comedy Central Radio that previously occupied some of those slots will move to SiriusXM Channels 103 to 109.
On the news side, SiriusXM will bring its streaming simulcast of the free channel Dateline 24/7 to SiriusXM Channel 118, while MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) moves up to SiriusXM Channel 117. The realignment allows SiriusXM to fill out a channel spot left vacant by the company’s decision to drop its simulcast of HLN last year.
The realignment also allows SiriusXM to dedicate two channels — SiriusXM Channel 93 and SiriusXM Channel 144 — to specialty channels that are offered during pop-up events or limited-time runs.
Most of SiriusXM’s core music channels will remain untouched.
