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NBC Sports Sets Second Highest Viewership for NFL Kickoff Game

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports Sets Second Highest Viewership for NFL Kickoff Game

NBC Sports’ milestone 20th season of Sunday Night Football got off to a dramatic start Thursday, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys delivered a back-and-forth NFL Kickoff Game that set viewership records before being interrupted by a lengthy weather delay.

The Super Bowl–champion Eagles and their NFC East rivals combined for seven consecutive scoring drives in the first half. Keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Philadelphia held a slim 21-20 lead at halftime, with the broadcast averaging 34.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. ET.

That figure represents the largest peak audience ever for an NFL Kickoff Game. According to official Nielsen Big Data + Panel measurements and Adobe Analytics digital data.

Highlights of the stretch included Saquon Barkley’s 10-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Immediately followed by a 53-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey as time expired.

By the third quarter, the Eagles were ahead 24-20 with 4:44 remaining when the game was halted due to a 65-minute weather delay. Leading up to the interruption, the contest averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 31.9 million viewers from 8:23 to 10:15 p.m. ET. Based on its pace prior to the stoppage, the game was on track to surpass all previous NFL Kickoff Games. Potentially reaching a TAD of 31.6 million viewers.

Despite the pause, Philadelphia held on to win 24-20, finishing with an average audience of 28.3 million viewers across the original and late-night broadcast windows, including 8:23–10:15 p.m. ET and 11:24 p.m.–12:18 a.m. ET. While the weather delay trimmed overall numbers, Cowboys-Eagles still ranks as the second-most watched NFL Kickoff Game in history. Trailing only last year’s Ravens-Chiefs matchup, which averaged 29.2 million viewers. Post-delay, the TAD was 20.2 million viewers.

Digital streaming also shined, with the Average Minute Audience (AMA) across Peacock, NBC Sports Digital platforms, and NFL Digital platforms reaching 4.9 million viewers. That marks the second-most simulstreamed NBC NFL game. Surpassing three NBC Super Bowls and trailing only Super Bowl LVI in 2022, according to Adobe Analytics.

The opening week performance underscores the enduring appeal of Sunday Night Football, even amid unexpected interruptions. With record-breaking audience peaks and strong digital engagement, NBC Sports’ flagship NFL package continues to set the standard for live sports broadcasting in the streaming era.

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CMA Award Nominees Announced For 59th Annual Event

BMM Staff
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CMA Award Nominees Announced For 59th Annual Event

The nominees for the 59th annual CMA Awards have been announced.

The 2025 edition of the awards is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, and will be broadcast on ABC, and available to stream on Hulu the following day.

The eligibility period for this year’s CMA Awards is July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. 

Weekly National

  • Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton
  • The Country Top 40 with Fitz, Cory “Fitz” Fitzner
  • The Original Country Gold, Rowdy Yates
  • Today’s Country Radio, Kelleigh Bannen
  • Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton

Daily National

  • Big D & Bubba; Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Carsen Humphreville, Jonathan Shaffer, Garrett Freche
  • Highway Mornings with Cody Alan; Cody Alan, Lauryn Snapp
  • Ridin’ With Rowdy; Rowdy Yates
  • The Rob and Holly Show; Rob Stone, Holly Hutton
  • Wilhite and Wall Show; Darren Wilhite, Tim Wall

Major Market

  • Chris Carr & Company; Chris Carr, Sam Sansevere, “Dubs” Michael Wilczynski – KEEY/Minneapolis
  • Hawkeye and Michelle; Mark “Hawkeye” Louis Rybczyk, Michelle Rodriguez – KSCS/Dallas
  • The Lo Show; Lauren “Lo” Sessions-Barker – KKBQ/Houston
  • Rachel Ryan; KSCS/Dallas
  • The Scotty Kay Show – WUSN/Chicago

Large Market

  • Deb & Matt in the Morning; Deborah Honeycutt, Matt Malone – WFMS/Indianapolis
  • The Q Morning Crew w/ Mike & Amanda; Mike Wheless, Amanda Daughtry – WQDR/Raleigh
  • Scott and Shannen; Scott Dolphin, “Shannen O” Oesterreich – WMIL/Milwaukee
  • Tim & Chelsea; Tim Leary, Chelsea Taylor – WIRK/West Palm Beach
  • Wayne D and Tay; “Wayne D” Danielson, Tay Hamilton – WSIX/Nashville

Medium Market

  • The Doc Show with Chewy; Ken “Doc” Medek, Sean “Chewy” Medek – WGGY/Wilkes Barre
  • Ellis and Bradley Show; Bill Ellis, Beth Bradley – WSSL/Greenville, SC
  • Joey & Nancy; Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, Karly Duggan – WIVK/Knoxville
  • Mo & StyckMan; Melissa “Mo” Wagner, Greg “StyckMan” Owens – WUSY/Chattanooga
  • Spencer Graves Show; Spencer Graves, Megan Terry, Blair Davis – WDXB/Birmingham

Small Market

  • Ben & Arnie; Ben Butler, Arnie Andrews – WCOW/La Crosse, WI
  • Brent Lane and The Cat Pak Morning Show; Brent Lane, Jordan Glass – WYCT/Pensacola
  • Dan Austin Show – WQHK/Fort Wayne, IN
  • Hilley & Hart; Kevin Hilley, Erin Hart – KATI/Columbia, MO
  • Liz & Scotty in the Morning; Liz Del Grosso, Scotty Cox – KCLR/Columbia, MO

Radio Station

Major Market

  • KKBQ/Houston
  • KSCS/Dallas
  • KYGO/Denver
  • WUSN/Chicago
  • WXTU/Philadelphia

Large Market

  • WCTK/Providence
  • WMIL/Milwaukee
  • WSIX/Nashville
  • WUBE/Cincinnati
  • WWKA/Orlando

Medium Market

  • KUZZ/Bakersfield
  • WHKO/Dayton
  • WIVK/Knoxville
  • WLFP/Memphis
  • WQMX/Akron

Small Market

  • KATI/Jefferson City, MO
  • KCLR/Columbia, MO
  • WCOW/La Crosse, WI
  • WKML/Fayetteville, NC
  • WXBQ/Johnson City, TN

Entertainer

  • Luke Combs
  • Cody Johnson
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Morgan Wallen 
  • Lainey Wilson

Female

  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ella Langley
  • Megan Moroney
  • Lainey Wilson

Male

  • Luke Combs
  • Cody Johnson
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Zach Top
  • Morgan Wallen

Group

  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • Old Dominion
  • Rascal Flatts
  • The Red Clay Strays

Duo

  • Brooks & Dunn  
  • Brothers Osborne  
  • Dan + Shay   
  • Maddie & Tae
  • The War And Treaty

Single

  • “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
  • “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
  • “I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
  • “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green; Producer: Will Bundy; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley

Album

  • Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
  • Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
  • F-1 Trillion – Post Malone; Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi; Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
  • Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

Song

  • “4x4xU” – Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
  • “Am I Okay?” – Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney
  • “I Never Lie” – Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
  • “Texas” – Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock
  • “You Look Like You Love Me” – Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

Event

  • “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green f/Ella Langley; Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff
  • “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake w/Jelly Roll; Producer: Micah Nichols
  • “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/Carrie Underwood; Producer: Trent Willmon
  • “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone f/Blake Shelton; Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome
  • “You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney f/Kenny Chesney; Producer: Kristian Bush

Musician

  • Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
  • Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
  • Brent Mason – Guitar
  • Rob McNelley – Guitar
  • Derek Wells – Guitar

Video

  • “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Directors: Alexandra Gavillet, Megan Moroney
  • “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/Carrie Underwood; Director: Dustin Haney
  • “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Director: TK McKamy
  • “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton; Director: Running Bear
  • “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green; Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

New Artist

  • Ella Langley
  • Shaboozey
  • Zach Top
  • Tucker Wetmore
  • Stephen Wilson Jr.

Robby Bridges Named Program Director of 103.1 The Wolf and WEBE 108

BMM Staff
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Robby Bridges Named Program Director of 103.1 The Wolf and WEBE 108

Robby Bridges has been named the new Program Director of country 103.1 The Wolf on Long Island.

Bridges joins the station after recently completing a four-year run working as the Vice President of Programming at Press Communications, which included leading 107.1 The Boss in New Jersey.

The move marks a return to the country format for Robby Bridges, who has worked in both leadership and on-air roles during his career.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the team at Connoisseur Media during this exciting time!” said Bridges. “I’m looking forward to working with Patrick Shea on Long Island to grow 103.1 The Wolf/WWWF into one of the biggest country stations in America and also to return to guide the iconic WEBE 108 in Connecticut. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity, big thank you’s to Kristin Okesson, Keith Dakin and Jeff Warshaw for their belief in me. Let’s go!”

In addition to his work at 103.1 The Wolf, where he’ll also serve as the station’s midday personality, Bridges has also been named as the Program Director of WEBE 108, the Connoisseur Media Adult Contemporary station in the market.

“The best part of my job is giving talented, passionate people opportunities to grow,” said Connoisseur Media Long Island and Connecticut Senior Vice President and Market Manager Kristin Okesson. “Robby’s expertise in country and AC radio will be highly beneficial for us at WWWF and WEBE 108,” Okesson continued. “These are some of the hardest-working people in radio, and our team continues to grow stronger in Connecticut and on Long Island.”

Bridges will begin his tenure on Monday, September 22nd.

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Colorado Broadcasters Association Announces Launch of Hall of Fame

BNM Staff
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Colorado Broadcasters Association Announces Launch of Hall of Fame

The Colorado Broadcasters Association has announced it is launching its own Hall of Fame, with the inaugural class being inducted next month.

On Friday, October 24th, the CBA will induct the following members into its first-ever class.

  • Rex Howell
  • Harry Hoth
  • Gene O’Fallon
  • Dick Maynard
  • Murphy Huston
  • Denise Plante
  • Tom Green
  • Lee Larsen
  • Mark Cornetta

“This is a long-awaited opportunity to recognize the true titans of Colorado broadcasting,” CBA President and CEO Justin Sasso said. “These individuals have inspired generations, broken new ground, and set standards of excellence throughout Colorado. Their legacies deserve to be celebrated not only by our industry but by the communities they’ve touched.”

“This recognition is long overdue, and now stands as Colorado’s highest broadcast honor,” added CBA Hall of Fame Committee Chair Tony Garcia. “The CBA is proud to promote and memorialize Colorado’s greatest broadcasters through the Hall of Fame, ensuring that their achievements are remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”

The news of the Colorado Broadcasters Association launching a Hall of Fame comes after the organization celebrated its 75th anniversary last year.

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Ben Shapiro Jumps Into Top 10 of August Podtrac Podcast Rankings

BNM Staff
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Ben Shapiro Jumps Into Top 10 of August Podtrac Podcast Rankings

Podtrac has released its August podcast rankings, and Ben Shapiro is the biggest mover inside the top 10 rankings from the measurement company.

During the month, The Ben Shapiro Show moved up five positions in the rankings by finishing August as the eighth-ranked podcast on Podtrac’s Top Podcasts by U.S. Unique Monthly Audience rankings.

The top three podcasts remained unchanged in the list, as NPR News Now, The Daily, and Up First from NPR took home top honors, respectively.

Meanwhile, Dateline NBC moved past Fox News Hourly Update in the rankings, as the two shows swapped positions for fourth and fifth.

The Shawn Ryan Show (6th), Pardon My Take (7th), Stuff You Should Know (9th), and 48 Hours (10th) rounded out the top 10 places.

While the podcast from Ben Shapiro vaulted into the top 10, it wasn’t the overall biggest mover in the top 20 rankings. Radiolab from WYNC Studios jumped 15 positions to finish the month in the final place of the top 20. Hidden Brain also jumped 10 positions to finish 19th overall.

As usual, iHeart Audience Network and iHeartPodcasts took home the top two spots on the Top U.S. Podcast Publishers & Networks rankings in August.

NPR Sales Network, Libsyn, and Acast took home the remaining positions inside the top five. Other top ten finishers included Disney, Vox Media, Fox Audio Network, PodcastOne, and Paramount, while The Daily Wire finished 11th.

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NFL YouTube Debut Draws Average Viewership Of 17.3 Million

BSM Staff
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NFL YouTube Debut Draws Average Viewership Of 17.3 Million

The NFL made streaming history Friday night, teaming up with YouTube for the league’s first exclusive global broadcast of a regular-season game. The Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, wasn’t just a primetime showcase of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert — it was also a glimpse into the future of how fans may experience football.

The game drew a global average-minute-audience (AMA) of 17.3 million, according to a YouTube release crediting Nielsen. That figure included 16.2 million in the United States and 1.1 million internationally. Fans in more than 230 countries and territories tuned in, making the contest not only a football event but also a global digital milestone.

The audience size helped set a record for the most concurrent viewers of a live stream on YouTube. While Amazon, Apple, and Peacock have already carved out footholds in streaming, YouTube’s ability to merge its creator ecosystem with live sports adds a wrinkle that traditional partners can’t easily replicate.

Unlike a standard television broadcast, the production leaned into interactivity and creator culture. Popular personalities such as MrBeast, Haley Kalil, Michelle Khare, and Marques Brownlee appeared throughout the night. Deestroying provided commentary from the sidelines. Kay Adams, Peter Overzet, and NFL veterans including Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Brandon Marshall, and Tyrann Mathieu handled studio duties. Colombian superstar Karol G headlined halftime with a performance designed for the global audience.

YouTube also leaned on its core community of creators. Watch-along streams and alternate commentary were offered by IShowSpeed, Tom Grossi, Robegrill, SKabeche, CazéTV, and others. By layering traditional football analysis with internet-native entertainment, the broadcast targeted multiple demographics at once.

This was YouTube’s first broadcast of the NFL regular season game for free on its platform’s history. When the contest was announced in May, the NFL and YouTube annouced a multi-year partnership to produce the annual Super Bowl Flag Football game. The collaboration builds on the success of the inaugural Super Bowl LIX Flag Football Game which garnered over six million live views.

Furthermore, YouTube and YouTube TV have served as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket since 2023. The package includes all out-of-market Sunday games broadcast on CBS and FOX. Giving fans across the United States the chance to follow their favorite teams and players regardless of location.

In 2024, NFL game content dominated viewership across the country accounting for 90 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts across all programming.

The NFL and Google, YouTube’s parent company, have been partners since 2015 when the league launched its official YouTube channel. Today, that channel boasts more than 14 million subscribers and features highlights, game-day compilations, and original series. The expanded partnership with YouTube aims to further enrich the fan experience through accessible and innovative digital content.

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NBC Sports Rolls Out NBA Coverage Promo During Sunday Night Football

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports Rolls Out NBA Coverage Promo During Sunday Night Football

NBC wasted no time reminding fans that the NBA is coming back to the network this fall. During Sunday night’s Buffalo-Baltimore matchup, the network dropped a 45-second spot promoting its NBA return with the same flair typically reserved for team introductions on game night.

The promo spotlighted NBC’s broadcast team in dramatic fashion, leaning into the kind of pomp and circumstance fans expect from an NBA arena. Grant Hill ripped away his warm-up suit to reveal a full suit and tie. Vince Carter put on a headset as if checking in from the scorer’s table. Reggie Miller autographed a dress shoe, tossed it to a fan in the stands, and even poked fun at his infamous “choke” gesture before tightening his tie. The lineup also included Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony and Jamal Crawford.

“That’s my team,” lead play-by-play voice Mike Tirico declared as he stood next to Oklahoma City Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. The players, looking puzzled, delivered the punchline. “Are we supposed to play them?” Gilgeous-Alexander asked.

The promo served a dual purpose. Introduce NBC’s new NBA crew while also building anticipation for the league’s return to the network on October 21. Opening night features a doubleheader showcasing some of the NBA’s biggest stars.

Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Thunder host Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. That will be followed by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors visiting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBCUniversal executives noted that Sunday Night Football provided the perfect stage to launch the campaign. With the NFL’s primetime showcase serving as television’s top show for 14 consecutive years, the crossover allowed the promo to reach millions of sports fans already locked into appointment viewing. NBC confirmed that versions of the spot will continue to air across its linear, digital and social media platforms in the weeks ahead.

“NBA player introductions have always played a big role in getting the arena crowd — and the people watching at home — excited for the game,” Joseph Lee, NBCUniversal’s senior vice president for creative marketing, sports and entertainment, said in a statement.

The promo comes at a pivotal moment for the league. The NBA’s new 11-year, $76 billion broadcast package with ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video officially tips off this season. NBC’s re-entry marks its first NBA coverage since 2002. Bringing back a brand synonymous with the league’s growth in the 1990s.

The schedule will feature consistent national windows across multiple platforms. Mondays will belong to Peacock, Tuesdays to NBC, Wednesdays to ESPN, Thursdays and select Fridays to Prime Video. ESPN will also be continuing on Fridays as well. Saturdays will split between Prime Video in the afternoon and ABC at night. Sundays will feature afternoon games on ABC and primetime contests on NBC.

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SNY Extends Broadcasting Rights With PIX11 To Carry New York Mets Games Through 2028

BSM Staff
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SNY Extends Broadcasting Rights With PIX11 To Carry New York Mets Games Through 2028

WPIX-TV (PIX11) will remain a central destination for New York Mets baseball, as the station announced it has renewed its multi-platform agreement with SNY through the 2028 season. The extension ensures Mets fans will continue to see exclusive broadcast coverage on PIX11 for at least three more years.

PIX11 and SNY have partnered since 2006, and the new agreement strengthens that long-standing relationship while expanding its reach. For the first time, Mets games carried by PIX11 will also be seen on Nexstar Media–owned stations in upstate New York and Hartford, Connecticut.

“As the broadcast home of Mets baseball for more than two decades, PIX11 is proud to extend this winning tradition,” Chris McDonnell, Vice President and General Manager of Nexstar’s New York City Operations, said in a statement. “Reaching Mets fans in five additional Nexstar markets across upstate New York and in Hartford is a clear demonstration of the enduring power of broadcast television and PIX11’s unique connection to Mets fans across the region.”

Starting in 2026, PIX11 will air 30 Mets games each season. This includesg 25 regular season matchups—primarily on Friday nights under the “Mets Game of the Week” brand. It will also include five spring training contests. Each broadcast will feature a 30-minute live pregame show, giving fans expanded coverage of their team.

The broadcast footprint will now extend beyond the New York City metropolitan area. Nexstar stations in Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse, Utica, and Hartford will carry the games, providing access to fans across the region. In addition, authenticated streaming options will allow viewers in each market to watch live online, ensuring broader availability across platforms.

While PIX11 expands its broadcast reach, SNY will continue producing the games. The broadcasts will feature the familiar and celebrated broadcast team of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling. Field reporter Steve Gelbs will also remain part of the coverage, providing fans with a consistent viewing experience.

For PIX11, which has branded itself as “New York’s Very Own,” Mets coverage has long been a cornerstone of its programming identity. With this deal in place, Mets fans across New York and Connecticut can look forward to consistent, free access to their team for the foreseeable future.

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1270 The Patriot to Add 2 Buffalo-Area FM Translators

BNM Staff
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1270 The Patriot to Add 2 Buffalo-Area FM Translators

After launching 1270 The Patriot in Buffalo earlier this year, the station has announced it has acquired a pair of FM translators to boost the station’s presence in the market.

Radio One Buffalo — owned by Buddy Shula — has purchased FM translators at 94.9 FM and 93.3 FM from Calvary Chapel of the Finger Lakes, pending FCC approval.

The 94.9 FM frequency will cover the northern portion of the city of Buffalo, while the 93.3 FM frequency will cover the southern area.

“This is a total game changer,” said Shula. “Pairing these two powerful metro FM translators with WUSW-AM will give nearly complete market coverage for The Patriot on the FM band. We hope to have these FMs approved and running by January 2026. This is not an opportunity I expected when I purchased WUSW, but when I heard of the possibility, I jumped on it right away knowing the difference it could make in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls market. It’s exciting news for both listeners and advertisers.”

The addition of the FM translators comes on the heels of Shula’s other station in the market — The Big WECK 1230 AM — being heard on three FM translators at 100.1 FM, 100.5 FM, and 102.9 FM.

1270 The Patriot features an almost exclusively nationally syndicated lineup, with Shula sharing earlier this year his intention to add local programming at a later date.

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Howard Stern Inks Extension With SiriusXM After Stunt Featuring Andy Cohen

BNM Staff
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Howard Stern Inks Extension With SiriusXM After Stunt Featuring Andy Cohen

After weeks of speculation, it’s official: Howard Stern is staying with SiriusXM. However, he utilized colleague Andy Cohen to fake out his audience briefly on Monday morning.

Stern had initially shared that he would address the rumors of his impending exit on Tuesday, September 2nd. When the day came, it was revealed that the announcement would be pushed back to this week.

To begin Monday’s show, Cohen was the first voice on the air, sounding flustered as he made the announcement that Stern had left the satellite broadcaster after 20 years.

“I know you’re expecting a big announcement from Howard, and this is not how things were meant to go,” Cohen said. “This was supposed to be a cleaner handoff. I’m kind of winging it,” adding that it was a “surreal morning.”

“I can’t overstate what Howard has meant to this company and what he did for SiriusXM. He walked so that we could run. I can’t possibly fill his void,” Cohen continued.

Later, though, Stern hopped on the air to share that it was an elaborate joke, and that he indeed was staying with the satellite radio company.

The 71-year-old admitted he had considered retiring and had “totally shut down” this summer to take time off and contemplate his future. He added that after the reaction to some that he had been “fired” or his show was “canceled” because he had become “woke,” the motivation to continue the program became overwhelming.

However, Howard Stern continued by stating that he is “very happy at Sirius” and that he was forced to postpone his announcement about his future after becoming “very sick” last week.

Stern did not share financial details or the length of his contract extension with SiriusXM when he announced he was staying with the satellite radio brand on Monday morning.

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