Shane Warne memorial set to be watched by billions around the world

Shane Warne’s memorial is expected to be watched by billions of people with confirmation the event will be streamed overseas.

Exclusive: Shane Warne’s memorial will be “Australia’s biggest ever broadcast event” with a potential audience of hundreds of millions.

West Indies legend Brian Lara, former England captain Nasser Hussain, former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram, are flying in to pay their respects at the MCG.

Friends of Warne from around the world who could not be there, including Greg Norman, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar will do video tributes.

Shane Warne’s memorial could have an audience of billions. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Insiders have confirmed that the MCG memorial will be streamed into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Britain, as well as running on all of Australia’s free to air networks and Foxtel.

An 11-camera strong team will beam pictures of Warne’s state memorial to the world, with Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin sending contributions.

Shane Warne’s family will deliver speeches at the start of the service, with final details still to be decided.

Warne’s father Keith and children Brooke, 24, Jackson, 22, and Summer, 20, spoke at his private funeral at the St Kilda Football Club.

Ed Sheeran will pay tribute to his mate. Picture: Instagram

The family speeches will be followed by a series of panel discussions, with cricket legends, titans of business and some of his close mates sharing their stories of the world’s best spin bowler.

“Shane Warne’s memorial could have an audience of billions, it’s the biggest broadcast event Australia has ever had,” an insider said.

“Every channel is taking the coverage, as well as Foxtel and it will have an international audience.”

Cricket mad India has a population of 1.4 billion, Pakistan has 220 million and Bangladesh has 164 million people.

Chris Martin, right, will also make a contribution. Picture: Instagram

Britain’s Sky TV is sending out a crew from London to cover Warne’s memorial.

Channel 7 will run the service ad free on its main channel from 7pm on Wednesday, in a timeslot normally reserved for Home And Away.

The memorial will run ad free, with a 9.20pm finish planned.

Channel 9 was still in discussions about what channel it would air on, while the ABC will show the memorial on its News 24 channel and iview.

Channel 10 run the memorial on its main channel.

Eddie McGuire’s production company Jam TV will co-ordinate the live television feed, while Matt Gudinski’s company will provide the logistics for the event.

McGuire will also be the master of ceremonies.

The late Michael Gudinski, Matt’s father, was a close friend of Warne’s and a fellow Saints’ supporter.

A statue of Gudinksi was unveiled by Jimmy Barnes outside Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne earlier this week.

Gudinski’s company will provide the concert standard speakers, with final details of where the stage would be set being discussed at a meeting on Friday.

Most of the almost 50,000 mourners will sit in the newly named Shane Warne stand, formerly the Great Southern Stand.

However, there will also be seats in the Melbourne Cricket Club area of the ground, with screens to be set up to allow that side of the ground a view.

Warne’s family was being sent guest lists to approve, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Daniel Andrews, and former Prime Minister John Howard were among the dignitaries likely to attend.

[e-mail]