Croc Hunter Memorial Service on TV

Posted Sep 15, 2006 by Walt Belcher

Updated Sep 15, 2006 at 09:24 AM

 
So many people were moved by the death of the beloved Crocodile Hunterr Steve that the Animal Planet will his memorial service exclusively in the U.S. commercial free on Tuesday, September 19th from 9-10 PM ET/PT, with an encore broadcast airing 12-1 AM ET/PT. 

The memorial service, entitled “STEVE IRWIN: HE CHANGED OUR WORLD,” will be a same-day broadcast (with a two-hour delay) of the event Wednesday morning in Australia.  In addition, Animal Planet International is airing Steve Irwin’s memorial service worldwide across Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The public memorial service will be held in the “Crocoseum,” a 5,500-seat stadium at Irwin’s Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Australia.  Members of the Irwin Family, as well as Irwin’s long-time friend and producer, John Stainton, are expected to speak.  Celebrities and dignitaries worldwide are expected to attend.

Two days prior, Animal Planet is airing a 15-hour marathon of Steve Irwin’s programs on Sunday, September 17th from Noon to 3 AM ET/PT.  Throughout the marathon entitled CROCS RULE!: A TRIBUTE TO STEVE IRWIN, interstitial tributes from Irwin’s friends, colleagues and notable supporters will be featured.

Irwin, 44, died September 4 when a stingray’s barb pierced his chest while he was filming an underwater sequence on the Great Barrier Reef.

His family insisted that 3,000 tickets out of a possible 5,500 be given free to well-wishers prepared to queue for them.