ABC has asked its "World News Tonight" star anchor, Peter Jennings, to take a cut in his salary, estimated to be in excess of $10 million a year, reports Friday's New York Times. The network is also attempting to remove a clause in Jennings's contract that requires ABC to pay him substantially more than it pays his ABC News colleagues. (This would affect future salary raises for all news division employees, explains The Times.) Jennings declined to comment on Thursday about his contract, which expires this summer, but in the past he has denied the existence of such a clause. In a statement issued through his spokeswoman, Cathie Levine, Jennings, 63, said: "In more than 30 years I have never commented on any contract negotiations. Nor have I negotiated publicly. I see no reason at this time to change." ABC News president David Westin, restating a sentiment expressed in March, told The Times, "We have every hope and expectation that Peter will be our principal anchor for many years to come," and adding, "We will not discuss Peter's, or anyone else's contract in the press in any way." ABC officials also denied to The Times a story appearing Wednesday on the Internet site The Drudge Report which claimed that ABC wanted Jennings to accept an annual salary of $7.5 million. The ABC News division came under fire earlier this year for attempting to unseat Ted Koppel from his "Nightline" perch and replace him with CBS star David Letterman. The network, owned by Disney, is on an accelerated campaign to increase its earnings and sagging ratings.