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This post is part of the Roadmap To The Future Series. Roadmap To The Future explores innovative industry trends and breakthroughs in science, entertainment, and technology. This series is sponsored by Verizon.

In 2014, both Jay Leno and David Letterman's contracts expire with their respective late-night talk shows at NBC and CBS.

But, for once, the current discussion isn't about the rivalry between the two longtime late-night hosts.

Instead, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that NBC is planning gently to push out 62-year-old TV vet Leno in order to make way for the network's younger, hipper host Jimmy Fallon.

Fallon has been successful in the 12:35 a.m. time slot with "Late Night" and the network feels the 38-year-old has a better chance at competing with ABC's 45-year-old Jimmy Kimmel for a younger audience.

While Leno rules the ratings in the late night game — as he has for the past two decades — "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" garners the coveted age 18-49 demo in the 11:35 p.m. time slot.

"NBC has to think about what to do because ABC made the smart decision to move Kimmel when they did," a source close to the situation tells Business Insider. "Kimmel’s numbers in the demo have been much stronger than anyone would have initially predicted and every day he is on at 11:35 is another day that NBC will be playing catch-up when Leno leaves (whenever that actually may be)."

NBC denied The Hollywood Reporter's claims and a Leno rep said "We do not speculate on rumor," but the trade claims:

"Two high-level industry sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that NBC is moving toward a May announcement that the 2013-14 television season will be the last for Leno as host of the long-running late-night show. Sources expect the network to move Jimmy Fallon from his 'Late Night' spot into the coveted 11:35 p.m. time slot with a soft launch during the summer of 2014 before a formal fall kickoff."

E! Online confirmed the report with their own TV sources, writing: "...