Funeral webcasting has been one of
the hottest topics in the industry for the past few years. During that time
there have been several different webcasting providers who have emerged all
with similar product offerings. The purpose of this article is to explain the
technology, equipment, costs, and layout the different choices that are
available.
First,
let's look at the technology piece.
The
technology is actually fairly simple in today's world. The goal is to capture
what is seen and heard at the funeral service and relay it LIVE through the
internet. This is done by capturing the video with a camera and the audio with
a microphone, piping those signals into a computer, and onto the web. Some of
the basic features that pretty much every webcasting provider
offers is a LIVE broadcast, password protected viewer pages, and live on-demand
recording of the webcast,
making the video available for
viewing even after the service is over. The length of time that this is
available does vary depending on which company you choose to go with. The
different providers in this industry have slightly different software
mechanisms for webcasting. Some use a desktop application that is installed on
your computer while others have completely web-based applications. Either way
the software piece is used to capture the audio and video, and then encode it
which compresses the video making it more web-friendly. The way the video is
encoded will have an impact on the number of people who are able to view the
broadcast. For example, you may work with a provider who is using Windows Media
Encoder - which works fine if most of your viewers are all using Windows-based
computers. The fact of the matter is, Apple is the worlds largest company right
now and they own a very significant portion of the personal computer market.
Now, there are plugins that allow Mac users to view Windows Media files but
this is a third-party application that not all users have installed. The other
options being used in the industry are Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe Flash.
Instead of breaking down all of the specifics of each of these technologies,
lets just look at the facts.
Global market penetration of each
video streaming technology. In simple terms, the percentage of your audience
who will be able to view your webcast without any trouble.
Adobe Flash - 95.95%
Windows Media - 65.28%
Quicktime Player - 58.96%
Microsoft Silverlight - 60.32%
The clear winner at this point in
time is Adobe Flash. There is nothing saying that these statistics won't change
over the next 5 years being replaced by newer technologies like HTML5, but
currently the most compatible option is Flash and this has been the case as
long as funeral webcasting has been an item of conversation. So you may ask
yourself why any provider would choose to go with any of these other
technologies. Is it the quality of the video stream? No, Flash has the ability
to broadcast in high definition. Is it easier to use? No, the simplicity of the
user experience is all based on the software written to control these
technologies. Is it cost? Possibly, Flash is a more expensive infrastructure on
the server side.
Now the Equipment
With a webcast there are two
high-level choices when selecting what equipment you will need, Stationary or
Portable. Stationary equipment is hard-wired and installed inside your funeral
home.
* At least one camera mounted on the
ceiling or wall in your chapel
* Controller for the camera (if it
has the ability to pan/tilt/zoom)
* Computer with an internet
connection
* Feed from your sound system
* Capture device/card connected to
your computer to receive the audio and video
Pros - You don't have to setup your
equipment before each funeral service. The camera is mounted so it won't be
knocked over on the tripod. The audio feed is direct so there isn't any
interference from a wireless signal. The camera can be controlled remotely.
Cons - A little bit more expensive
to get things set up. Can only broadcast funerals from your funeral home.
Requires installation which can sometimes be a little costly depending on how
easy it is to run wires through your funeral home.
Portable Equipment basically
consists of the same elements, just you guessed it, portable.
* Video Camera (Ability to record to
SD Card or Hard Drive is preferred)
* Tripod
* Wireless Microphone
* Capture Device
* Laptop Computer
Pros - Can broadcast your funeral
services from anywhere there is an internet connection. If there is no internet
connection, you can just simply record the funeral to the camera and upload it
later. Costs a little bit less.
Cons - Requires setup before each
funeral service. Camera can only be controlled by walking up to it and moving
it on the tripod. Wireless microphones have a limited range (usually around
150ft.) and they can occasionally pick up interference from cell phones or
other devices.
Costs
You can almost spend any amount of
money you would like on funeral webcasting. There are monthly unlimited
webcasting plans ranging from $99 to $1500. Equipment can either be purchased
or leased. A good stationary equipment setup can cost a few thousand dollars,
while a portable setup is around $1500 or less. Equipment lease options provide
a little security, in the event that any of your equipment fails, most webcasting company
will replace it for you.
Effective Implementation
Once webcasting is being offered at your
funeral home, the sales process is simple. When you are meeting with a family
during the arrangement conference, just ask the question "Are there any
members of your family or friends who are going to be unable to attend the
funeral service?" The answer to this question in most cases is going to be
yes. This opens the door for you to explain that you offer LIVE webcasting for
those who are unable to attend the service. This should not be a threatening
sales pitch in any way. If the customer wants it, they will pay for it - but
they will not come and request these types of services if they do not know that
you offer them. As with any type of memorial technology, all you need to do is
inform the family that it is available so they have the option to buy it.
For more information or to give
funeral webcasting a try, go to http://www.vmukti.com
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