Discovery network mourns Irwin, plans tribute

WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) US-based television company Discovery Communications Inc. has said it mourned the loss of ''Crocodile Hunter'' Steve Irwin, the Australian talent who cemented its reputation, and said it planned a marathon showing of his programs among other tributes.

Irwin, who died yesterday at 44 after being stabbed in the chest by a stingray in Australia while on a filming expedition for Discovery's Animal Planet network, helped bring it worldwide attention, the company said in a statement.

''His show was one of the first true breakout hits, not only for Animal Planet, but for our company,'' said Annie Howell, a spokeswoman for the parent company, Discovery Communications of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Irwin's program was among the initial offerings on the fledgling Animal Planet network when it was launched in 1996, said Maureen Smith, general manager for Animal Planet US Ratings spiked and the company realized it had a hit.

''He became part of pop culture very quickly,'' Smith said.

Outside the United States, Animal Planet is available in 160 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East with programming in 24 different languages, Discovery said. The network reaches 88 million households in the United States.

Discovery Communications is 50 percent owned by publicly listed Discovery Holding Co.

Animal Planet is scheduled to air tributes to Irwin beginning at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT). Animal Planet US and Animal Planet International plan to air a marathon featuring highlights of Irwin's more than 200 appearances on Discovery networks shows.

Irwin leaves behind several uncompleted projects, including the one he was working on at the time of his death, Smith said.

However, he and his production partner John Stainton have a trove of material that has not been aired, she added. In addition, Irwin had several programs in post-production, including two travel shows, she said.

Irwin's existing series will continue to air for some time, Smith said.

Discovery plans to rename a garden at its headquarters for Irwin and establish a fund in his honor to support wildlife conservation and the education of Bindi and Bob Irwin, his children.

''He'll always be a part of Discovery,'' said William Campbell, Discovery Networks US, on CNN.

REUTERS DH PM0423