TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Mortimer Harvey dropped as Discovery Networks International moves the repping of its Scripps-acquired Food Network and Travel Channel to FleishmanHillard.

FleishmanHillard in South Africa has taken over the PR and repping for the Scripps' Food Network (DStv 175), Travel Channel (DStv 179 / Cell C black 255) and Fine Living HD (StarSat 281 / Cell C black 251) with the channels that were abruptly left rudderless since the end of May.

Mortimer Harvey that did the PR for the Food Network since around July 2011, and added the Travel Channel in early-2013, got dropped after 7 years with no word as to who would be taking over.

TV critics and journalists covering television stopped getting programming information at the end of May without as much as a goodbye and with nothing issued in advance for June, July or August (the month we're in now), making it impossible to cover the Food Network or Travel Channel during this time period.

Back in March Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive, with the press assuming even before the acquisition was completed, and also asking, whether Scripps PR would be folded into Discovery's public relations efforts.

After silence of over a month and a half and various journalists asking each other and not knowing what's going on and not being communicated with, TVwithThinus made the effort to reach out in mid-July - something you'd think a PR company would do - to try and find out what's going in with the PR of the Food Network and the Travel Channel.

I emailed and spoke on the phone to reps at Mortimer Harvey, MultiChoice and FleishmanHillard (doing the PR for Discovery Networks International's existing Discovery channels portfolio), to try and find out what's is happening and why there's no programming publicity information for these channels anymore.

I was told Mortimer Harvey isn't involved with it anymore and no longer has the contract.

On Thursday morning FleishmannHillard sent an advisory to South Africa's press, officially noting that the firm's team has now taken over from Mortimer Harvey in repping the Food Network and Travel Channel, with these channels now folded into the existing Discovery Networks portfolio's publicity work.

After 7 years a proper goodbye - any kind of goodbye - from Mortimer Harvey (that works in the public relations business) would have been nice.

Food Network's celebrity chefs Jenny Morris and Reza Mahammad teaming up to present new show, Jenny & Reza's Fabulous Food Academy.

The Food Network (DStv 175) celebrity chefs Jenny Morris and Reza Mahammad have teamed up and are filming a brand new edutainment cooking teaching show Jenny & Reza's Fabulous Food Academy in South Africa which will be broadcast on the channel from later this year.

It's the first TV production in which Jenny Morris and Reza Mahammad, both beloved and recognised faces on the Food Network in their own shows, are starring and working together as co-presenters of the new show teaching would-be chefs how to create a delicious feast while passing on cooking tips.

Jenny & Reza's Fabulous Food Academy, a first season which will consist out of 25 half hour episodes, was commissioned by Scripps Networks UK & Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with filming which recently started at Okuhle Media's studios in Cape Town.

Jenny & Reza's Fabulous Food Academy was commissioned by Gareth Williams, the vice president for commissioning at Scripps Networks UK & EMEA, with Louise McClelland of Okuhle Media as executive producer.

In Jenny & Reza's Fabulous Food Academy Jenny Morris and Reza Mahammad help amateur chefs across South Africa in their custom-designed studio with tips and techniques on how to cook like a professional.

From basics to Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes, the chefs bring their unique and now combined sense of humour to this new show as they put the participants through their paces.

"We are proud to be launching a new format with Jenny and Reza who have been a huge hit with our audiences across the region," says Phillip Luff, the managing director for Scripps Networks UK & EMEA.

"Our continued investment in our talent and original commissions has allowed for us to expand our portfolio as one of the world's leading producers of engaging lifestyle content."