SiriusXM replaced its Raw Comedy channel with Sebastian Maniscalco's Comedy Radio in April, leading to a 66% drop in the number of comedians receiving airplay, from 812 to 275. Critics argue this change favors well-known comedians and deprives many working comics of important royalty income. Comedians and advocacy groups are urging SiriusXM and Maniscalco to restore the previous format, while SiriusXM defends the move as a programming update aimed at improving listener experience. The company has not disclosed audience data or the extent of Maniscalco's control over the playlist.
SiriusXM shares are trading at USD 26.52 as of October 7, 2026, 02:41 WIB, showing a modest 0.78% gain on the day. This price is closer to the lower end of its 52-week range, with a high of USD 32.59 and a low of USD 19.92, indicating some volatility over the past year. Despite the controversy over its channel changes, investor interest remains strong on Pluang, where buying activity is at 100% and the typical hold time is 102 days. SiriusXM also offers a dividend yield of 4.1%, which may appeal to income-focused investors.
