Top staffers at Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show of the same name are reportedly looking for other job opportunities at the station amid heightened uncertainty.
Radio personality Fred Norris was spotted pitching for a new position at the streaming service, the US Sun reported Tuesday.
“Fred was walking with another guy in Sirius and said, ‘Let me know, I don’t know what’s going to happen in January, I might be looking for a job,'” the eyewitness claimed.
Norris has known Stern since 1979, when he appeared on his nightly radio show. Other than Stern himself, he is the longest-serving member of “The Howard Stern Show” staff.
The Sun’s sources also claimed that show staff are buzzing about the possibility of the show being canceled before the end of the year.
“Based on conversations with (Stern show producer) Gary Dell’Abate and others, it appears they have no plans to re-sign with Sirius,” the source said, referring to Stern’s contract expiring in December.
Last month, sources claimed staff were in a “panic” amid speculation Mr Howard would hang up his headphones.
One source told the Daily Mail at the time: “The fear that they might be out of work next week or next month is fading,” adding: “Being made redundant has been in the back of their minds for quite some time.”
Insiders noted that employees were “afraid” to talk about their current working conditions because they had signed non-disclosure agreements.
“Employees can be fired immediately and lose everything, especially if Mr. Stern finds out they have broken their non-disclosure agreements,” the person said, adding, “Many people’s lives have been dramatically changed by Mr. Stern’s arbitrary firings.”
Reports surfaced in August that Stern’s radio show of the same name was in jeopardy as his $500 million contract was coming to an end.
“Stern’s contract runs through the fall, and Sirius plans to make him an offer, but he has no intention of accepting it,” a source told the US Sun at the time.
“Sirius and Stern will never meet over the money he wants. It’s no longer worth the investment,” the source claimed.
But Daily Mail sources claimed the chat was a “desperate hoax” to keep Mr Stern “relevant”.
Last month, Stern responded to the gossip by admitting he had no plans to retire, then trolled listeners by pretending to hand over the show to his good friend Andy Cohen.
Page Six has reached out to SiriusXM for comment.
