NEW YORK -- David Letterman is retiring next year as host of "Late Show."

During a taping of Thursday's show, Letterman said he has informed CBS that he will step down in 2015, when his contract expires.

He specified no end date, telling his audience he expects his exit will be in "at least a year or so, but sometime in the not too distant future -- 2015, for the love of God -- [band leader] Paul [Shaffer] and I will be wrapping things up."

Referring to CBS chairman Leslie Moonves as "the man who owns this network," Letterman said: "I phoned him just before the program, and I said 'Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, and the network has been great, but I'm retiring.'"

Along with his network, Letterman thanked "all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theater, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much."