The sign board for The Late Show with David Letterman is seen in New York City
© AFP/Getty Images/File Peter Kramer

NEW YORK (AFP) - The New York Times quoted unnamed sources as saying the popular "Late Show with David Letterman" would be back on Wednesday, the same night that talk show hosts Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno return to US television screens.

However, only the Letterman show and the program that follows hosted by Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson would likely feature material from writers, following the deal made by the two shows' producers, the Times reported.

Both O'Brien and Leno said earlier this month they would risk crossing picket lines from January 2 in order to safeguard the jobs of staff who were not part of the dispute between the Writers Guild of America and producers.

Like Letterman's "Late Show," O'Brien and Leno's popular chat shows went into shutdown soon after the writers strike began in early November.

O'Brien said he had decided to resume an unscripted show to protect the livelihoods of dozens of long-serving members of staff.

Leno, who has spoken out in support of writers and also visited picket lines to distribute doughnuts early in the dispute, said he was also motivated by a desire to save jobs of production staff on his "Tonight" show.

The Writers Guild of America accused network NBC of ordering Leno and O'Brien's decision to return to TV screens and called for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to return to the negotiating table.

The WGA began its strike on November 5 after talks with the alliance over profits from Internet and new media sales broke down. Renewed negotiations collapsed again on December 7, dashing hopes of a resolution to the dispute.

©AFP