NEW YORK, May 31 — Popular food and travel TV host Anthony Bourdain is pulling the plug on his Travel Channel show “No Reservations” to join CNN.

Bourdain has had a show on the Travel Channel since 2005. — Picture courtesy of the Travel ChannelBourdain’s new show will launch in 2013, the news network announced, and air as part of the channel’s weekend food and travel programme.

The series will be produced by the same crew that shot “No Reservations”, which debuted on the Travel Channel in 2005. The new show will be shot on location and will examine cultures through their food, dining and travel rituals, says CNN.

But in his new role, it seems Bourdain is poised to take on a larger role than the one he played as the smart, sarcastic, comically jaded host to culinary food shows previously, as the press release indicates he will also offer commentary on other CNN programmes”,providing insight into current events” and other “cultural conversations.”

The as-of-yet unnamed show is scheduled to air in the US on Sundays during prime time with repeat airings on Saturday nights.

Bourdain has won Emmys for programmes on Haiti and Laos.

Meanwhile, as Bourdain makes a move to another major TV network, pundits predict that the web is the place to be. YouTube, for instance, successfully recruited Food Network titan Bruce Seidel to helm its new dedicated food channel Hungry, which is slated to launch this summer. — AFP-Relaxnews