Jay Leno's Future with NBC in Question

As late night talk show host Jay Leno nears his 58th birthday, he continues to succeed in ratings and shows no sign of leaving his position. However, with his NBC contract coming to an end in 2009, it is said that other major networks, such as ABC and FOX, are pursuing Leno. Sony Pictures Television has also been said to offer Leno a contract. Efluxmedia reports, NBC announced four years ago that Conan O'Brian was scheduled to replace Leno at the end of his Tonight Show contract. But NBC doesn't want to give Leno up yet, saying perhaps he could host another show or prime time specials. ABC will offer Leno a show starting at 11:35 p.m., which would compete directly with NBC, while Fox would offer Leno a slot at 11 p.m., according to eFluxMedia. Offers from Sony are said to be a salary of $40 million a year or more for Leno. The New York Times reports Leno's lawyer, Kenneth Ziffern, as saying, "Jay will of course honor his contract obligations to NBC. Jay isn't talking to anyone about anything and won't be until it's contractually proper."