Letterman Sticking with CBS

Zap2It.com | September 7, 2006

David Letterman

Discuss this story now

'Late Show' host signs extension through 2010

It looks like David Letterman will be keeping his home at CBS, and in much less dramatic fashion than the last time his contract was up for renewal.

The "Late Show" host is reportedly close to extending his contract with CBS through the 2009-10 season, which would be his 17th at the network. Its terms aren't being disclosed, but Letterman's salary is expected to remain in the neighborhood of the $31.5 million a year he currently makes.

Negotiations for a contract extension have been going on for some time, with both sides working under the assumption that Letterman wasn't looking to go anywhere, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

That's in stark contrast to the situation in 2002, when ABC made Letterman an offer to change networks. Letterman at the time had made remarks about being unhappy with the way CBS handled the negotiations, and ABC was left red-faced when the news broke no one had mentioned the network's plan to then-"Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel, who would have been displaced had Letterman jumped ship.

This time around, Letterman is reportedly more content with his situation at CBS -- he even features network boss Les Moonves on the show in a recurring bit called "More With Les." As it has been every year since 1994, "The Late Show" was nominated for an Emmy this year for outstanding writing for a comedy or variety series (if you include NBC's "Late Night," the streak goes back to 1984). Letterman also was nominated for his individual performance this year.