FILE PHOTO OF DAVID LETTERMAN, 2002-03-01 (photo)

David Letterman may be ready to move "Stupid Pet Tricks" and other highlights of his long-running late-night talk show from CBS to ABC when his current contract expires this summer, a published report said March 1, 2002. Letterman, currently pulling down about $20 million a year under a contract signed with CBS in 1993, has been in talks with ABC since the expiration about a month ago of a period during which CBS had exclusive negotiating rights, the New York Times said. His late night show would replace "Nightline", the 22-year old news program hosted by Ted Koppel, which ABC says does not attract enough of the 18-34 year-old viewer demographic craved by advertisers. Letterman's CBS show airs at 11:35 p.m. against "Nightline" and NBC's "The Tonight Show", starring Jay Leno. Letterman, shown in this file March 27, 1995 at the 67th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn/File GAC/HK