Howard Stern signs 'monster payday' after show cancelation rumours

Howard Stern has reportedly locked in another major deal with SiriusXM, even as speculation mounted that his long-running radio show might soon be pulled from the air.

Industry columnist Rob Shuter reported that the 70-year-old broadcaster finalised terms "two weeks ago," describing it as "another monster payday" that guarantees his place on satellite radio beyond the end of his current agreement.

"He's already done the deal," one insider told Shuter. "All this talk about him being fired or cancelled? It's pure theatre." It comes as Stern was branded an "absolute creep" after a resurfaced video with a major female celebrity went viral once again.

Neither Stern nor SiriusXM has publicly confirmed the extension. Instead, the shock sparked curiosity with a cryptic 45-second Instagram video featuring headlines about his uncertain future.

Over a montage of stories, a narrator teased, "Chaos is swirling at The Howard Stern Show. Did staffers talk to the press? Are writers withholding their best jokes? Nobody knows what's going on - or who to trust. Now we can reveal all the questions will be answered. All the truths will be told by the one man truly on the inside: Howard Stern will speak. Tuesday, September 2."

The timing of Stern's post comes after weeks of chatter that SiriusXM intended to part ways with its marquee host.

Earlier this summer, a source told the Daily News that Stern's contract was set to expire in the fall and that executives no longer viewed his multimillion-dollar salary as sustainable.

"Stern's contract is up in the fall, and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don't intend for him to take it," the source said at the time.

"Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It's no longer worth the investment."

Yet Stern, who has been with SiriusXM since 2006, appears determined to maintain control of how his career winds down.

According to another insider, he has been exploring possible projects with HBO and Netflix should his relationship with Sirius falter.

"If the fallout continues with Sirius, he has made roads elsewhere to potentially do something with HBO or Netflix. It is not all bad if this goes bad. His story isn't done. Because he wants it to all end on his own terms. He believes he deserves that for all that he has done in the medium."

It comes after a lip reader revealed the 3-word promise that Donald Trump whispered into Vladimir Putin's ear at their Alaska summit.