David Letterman, the longest-running late-night host in television history, has extended his CBS contract through 2015.
The move will keep Letterman on the air more than a year longer than rival Jay Leno will remain at NBC’s “Tonight Show.” Leno hands over the show to Jimmy Fallon in February.
Letterman said he and CBS CEO Les Moonves agreed that “I needed a little more time to fully run the show into the ground.”
“There is only one Dave, and we are extremely proud that he continues to call CBS ‘home,’” Moonves said.
Letterman, an inspiration to fellow late-night hosts including Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien, has been in late night since debuting on NBC’s “Late Night” on Feb. 1, 1982. This year, his “Late Show” marked 20 years on CBS.
Since its debut on CBS on Aug. 30, 1993, the show has received nine Emmy Awards, including six for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
The show increased its audience 5 percent over last year during the opening week of the 2013-2014 broadcast season, earning a weekly average of 3.14 million viewers.