The Crematorium Already Streams. Do You Need Your Own?

Many families find out while arranging the funeral that the crematorium already offers live streaming. Often that is all they need. This guide covers what to ask about the venue's own stream, and why some families book a separate one as well.

Which Sydney venues have their own streaming

These are venues we have filmed in, and what each operator says about streaming:

• Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, North Ryde: Metropolitan Memorial Parks offers webcasting in every chapel.
• Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde: InvoCare offers webcasting in all four chapels.
• Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park and Crematorium, Matraville: live streaming is listed as standard in the South and West Chapels.
• Woronora Memorial Park and Crematorium, Sutherland: live streaming is listed as standard in both chapels.
• Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury: both chapels are fitted with live-streaming equipment.
• Castlebrook Memorial Park, Rouse Hill: webcasting is offered in the Garden Chapel, streamed live and recorded.

Several of these venues also have outdoor screens, speakers or a quiet room. Those are for people on the grounds. A live stream is for people who are somewhere else.

Questions to ask about the venue's stream

Your funeral director can get answers to these when booking the chapel:

• How many cameras are there, and where do they point?
• Are the celebrant and speakers on microphones that feed the stream?
• Can tribute slideshows or videos be shown in the stream?
• How long does the recording stay online, and does the family get a copy to keep?
• Is the link private, and can it have a PIN?
• If the burial is somewhere else, can the graveside be streamed too?

If the answers suit you, the venue's stream is a sensible choice.

When families book a separate stream

The families who ask for Stream Catcher as well usually want one or more of these:

• At least three cameras, so viewers see the coffin, the speakers and the room, rather than one fixed view.
• A technician who stays with the stream for the whole service.
• A recording on the same link within a few hours, available for up to twelve months, plus an HD copy to download and keep.
• Tribute slideshows and videos played into the stream at full quality.
• The graveside or a second venue on the same link, since we bring our own power and our own combined 4G and 5G connections.

We work alongside the chapel staff and do not need the venue's internet or AV. We arrive at least ninety minutes early, set up before guests come in, and stay out of the way while the service runs.

How to arrange it

Tell your funeral director you would like Stream Catcher for the service. They will check the chapel booking with the venue and let us know the time. You can also call us on 0403 355 445 at any hour. Our guide on how to choose a funeral live streaming service has more questions to ask, and our funeral live streaming page explains how we work.