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Globe trotting No Reservations star Anthony Bourdain is leaving Travel Channel for CNN.

The chef, author and media personality will get his own program on the cable news network in early 2013. He'll become the marquee personality in CNNs efforts to broaden its lifestyle programming.

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Bourdains untitled program will air Sunday evenings and, judging from the description provided by CNN, will resemble his popular Travel Channel series in that it will have Bourdain examining cultures from around the world through their food, dining and travel rituals. The CNN show will be produced by Zero Point Zero Production, which also produced Travels No Reservations.

The deal also calls for Bourdain to appear on other CNN programs as a contributor, though it's unclear whether he'll begin appearing on the network before his show launches next year.

"Im really looking forward to coming over to CNN," Bourdain said. "I think the world is going to get a whole lot bigger for me. I hope that old fans and new ones will be excited about whats coming down the road.

The show, which will repeat on Saturday evenings, was announced Tuesday by Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide executive vp and managing editor.

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For more than a decade, Anthony Bourdain has been a trailblazer in educating Americans about different cuisines and cultures around the world, as well as an outspoken commentator on social trends ranging from the rise of celebrity chefs to the impact of fast-food chains to the spread of vegetarianism and veganism. said Whitaker. Examining the world through the prism of Tonys unique expertise and passions continues CNNs long-standing commitment to international reporting and to promoting global understanding.

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Anthony Bourdain Exits Travel Channel for CNN