// Live Events - Funeral Live Streaming
Funeral Service Live Streaming to Friends, Family & Loved Ones Worldwide
We can help family & friends around the country - and the world - to take part and pay their respects.
Discreet and Respectful
The Next Best Thing to Being There
We understand that no livestream can ever compensate for being unable to attend a loved-one's funeral in person.
However, with multiple camera angles to capture the proceedings, including a roving camera outdoors for the arrival and departure of the funeral cortège, loved ones unable to attend in person will feel intimately involved, allowing them to be a part of the day and to pay their respects.
“Innobella Media recently live-streamed my Dad's funeral service. In spite of difficulties, due to poor internet connectivity at the Church, Paul went out of his way to ensure that the streaming worked. This was particularly appreciated by my brother and his family in New Zealand, who were unable to attend in person. The quality of the recording was very good and Paul was always quick to respond to queries and dealt professionally and sensitively with any issues at a difficult time for our family.”
Jacqueline Sweeney
About Funeral Live Streaming
What is included in the fee for Funeral Live Streaming?
For funeral services, the most popular live streaming option is a single camera, single operator live broadcast to a private YouTube link which we will set up in advance so you can share with family and friends.
We provide more than just a static, wide-angle shot from the back row. We use professional video camera equipment which means we can follow the coffin into the venue and use a mixture of wide shots showing the whole space and close-ups; for example of a vicar leading a service or a relative doing a Bible reading or reading a eulogy.
If a larger-scale production is required (for example a bigger church, or a longer service with choir singing etc.) we can provide a multi-camera livestream with up to 4 camera angles and operators. Get in touch to discuss if you’d like a bespoke quote.
What do you need from me?
We request that you provide us with the following information in plenty of time before the service takes place;
- The full name of the deceased
- A high-resolution photograph
- Your preferred wording, if any (eg. “In Loving Memory of…” or “A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of…”)
We will use the above information to create your own private live stream page and a holding image which will be in place for viewers before the stream starts.
Please provide us with an order of service (via email is fine) as soon as possible, and provide any extra details of any specifics planned for the service (especially any elements which may take place outside the church).
We also need to confirm with the venue that they are happy for us to attend with our equipment and broadcast live video & audio, and that we can get access ~2hrs before the service starts. Included in our fee we will contact the venue and do all that for you – please share with us details if you have a specific contact at the church or venue.
Is it private?
We will provide you with a private YouTube link so that you can share this with family and friends in advance of the funeral service to enable them to view the live stream. The technical term is “Unlisted”, which means only those that you share the link with can see it.
Nobody will be able to search for it or stumble upon it – only those who have been given the link by you.
If you would like the service to be publicly viewable – for instance if you want to include details of the livestream in a newspaper obituary announcement – we can help accommodate this and provide a more human-friendly link for you too.
Will everyone in attendance be visible?
It’s to be expected that everyone who is in attendance at the funeral may be visible on the live stream at times. This would mainly be the backs of the heads of those in attendance, but please note that faces would be visible if, for example, someone were to turn around and look in the camera’s direction or at the end of the service if they walk back towards the rear of a building.
Please be assured, however, that we would never “zoom in” to a close-up of any attendee sitting down during a service; the main focus of the live stream will always be the proceedings from the front and anybody actively taking part in the service.
Please note: It is your responsibility to get the permission/approval of the venue before engaging our services and to inform all those attending that a recording/live stream is taking place.
Can people watch again afterwards?
Yes, as soon as the live stream ends it will be available to watch again as a Replay almost immediately. The same link will also work again to allow those unable to watch live, or who would like to watch again, to re-watch on demand.
This is especially useful in cases where there are friends and family around the world in different countries and timezones watching from home.
Can we get a recording?
Yes – we always record events as well as livestreaming in case of connectivity issues which could disrupt the live viewing. If you would like us to we will be happy to share this “offline recording” with you after the event. You may wish to hold on to this recording as a keepsake, or to allow family members without Internet access to watch it by taking it to their home on a laptop or tablet.
Please be sure to communicate this requirement to us beforehand as we cannot guarantee to keep recorded copies for more than 1 week after an event.
What if the venue does not have Internet?
If the venue does not have Internet access, or they are unable/unwilling to allow us to use it, then with the venue’s agreement we can erect our mobile data equipment outside the venue and run a cable to our equipment inside.
We use industry-grade 4G LTE equipment with a high-gain omnidirectional antenna which achieves excellent signal in the majority of locations, easily sufficient to livestream video in 720p or even Full HD.
However, we cannot guarantee service quality or availability, or accept any responsibility for network connectivity issues which may disrupt the live stream (this is also true when using a venue’s own Internet connection). We always record the event as well, so we can provide you with the recording ASAP in the event of connectivity problems.
For venues in a known mobile data blackspot or where equipment setup is not feasible (eg. Springwood Crematorium) we propose a time-delayed livestream; we record the ceremony and then live stream the recorded video 1 hour later from our office. For example, a Committal service which takes place at 3pm will be recorded and then livestreamed at 4pm enabling those watching the stream to watch together in a communal manner.
How it Works
How does it work?
We’ll provide you with a YouTube link for you to share with family and friends so that they can watch the funeral live stream either on their TV (via set top box or Chromecast device) or on a computer, smartphone or tablet.
Before the service starts this link will show a holding page and the time it is scheduled to start. The video should start playing automatically when the live stream starts, but if not viewers may need to press play depending on their device.
What Access Requirements Will You Need on the Day?
We need access to the church or other venue around 2 hours before the service starts, in order to set up and test video, sound and (if in use) mobile Internet equipment. Time to pack down everything afterwards is usually shorter; around 30-45 minutes.
If the venue doesn’t have Internet for us to use to live stream, we will erect a tall antenna mast outside the church (for mobile Internet) and run a cable inside to our equipment table (taped down if it crosses a path where people may walk).
Please note: when using mobile data for live streaming, although it works brilliantly the majority of the time, signal can obviously fluctuate so we cannot guarantee it will work smoothly or even at all. However, the service is always recorded as well, as a backup.
What about sound?
This varies from venue to venue and it depends on time constraints, what equipment the venue operates and what the venue are willing to accommodate. In every case, we will ensure that the sound on the live stream is of the best quality available in that circumstance.
Ideally, we prefer to take a live feed from the venue’s sound desk where possible so that viewers of the live stream hear exactly the same as those at the venue (eg. podium/pulpit mics, radio mics on those leading the service and any music played through sound system).
Where this isn’t possible we can use our own wireless clip-on mics or a wireless handheld microphone on a stand up the front. Alternatively we can simply use a microphone mounted on the camera.
What if the mobile data connection doesn’t work?
We always record the event as a backup, so we can provide you with the recording ASAP in the event of connectivity problems disrupting a live stream.
Please see the section above for more details.
What if we play copyrighted music?
In this example, 3 songs were played; 2 were permitted but 1 caused the livestream replay to be temporarily blocked until the Coldplay song was muted.
We use YouTube’s platform to live stream the funeral service for you. YouTube will usually pick up any music and this may have implications for the availability of replay, although this depends on the policy of the record label/distributor of the track in question and can vary from country to country.
The result can range from nothing happening (other than possibility of adverts playing before/after the video) to that section of the video being muted, or the video being blocked in some countries. The worst-case scenario is that the recorded video is blocked on YouTube worldwide until that section of the video is muted to remove the copyrighted music (although this is rare).
Unfortunately we have no control over this and can’t accept any responsibility – but if this is a concern, please don’t hesitate to discuss with us.
Do You Have Public Liability Insurance?
Yes, we hold Public and Products Liability Insurance to the value of £1million and Professional Indemnity Insurance to the value of £1million.
Copies of insurance certificates are available on request.
Get In Touch For Pricing & Availability
Funeral Service Live Streaming to Friends & Family Worldwide
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