Howard Stern returns to his SiriusXM show

Is Howard Stern staying or going?

- STEPHEN BATTAGLIO

MICHAEL ZORN Invision/Associated Press HOWARD STERN said he is optimistic about reaching a deal with SiriusXM after his contract ends this year.

The veteran radio personality had his SiriusXM satellite radio fans guessing Monday morning when Bravo TV impresario Andy Cohen opened the show with a bit saying he was taking over Stern's dedicated channel.

But it was all a ruse.

Stern, 71, came back behind the microphone Monday after delaying his return from a summer break by a week. The delay ratcheted up press speculation that his massively successful run at SiriusXM will end when his contract expires later this year.

While Stern has yet to complete a new deal with the company, the elder statesman of radio shock jocks strongly indicated that he is not ready to hang up his headset just yet.

"What pisses me off is now I can't leave," Stern told listeners. "I've been thinking about retiring. Now I can't because then they'll say I got pushed out."

So what’s happening with Stern’s show?

Stern said reports that he was exiting SiriusXM led to other companies reaching out to him about taking on his long-running program.

But Stern said he remains happy at SiriusXM and was positive about the recent negotiations for a new deal.