Funerals are sensitive territory and PassCast approaches the use case carefully. Many parishes already livestream funerals for free on YouTube, and that practice should not be priced out of existence. PassCast is for the situations where families want a more controlled, private viewing experience for distant relatives, or where a memorial service is being run as a fundraiser for a charity in the deceased's name. The platform supports both free and paid funeral streams and adds a 72-hour replay window so relatives in any time zone can watch.
When PassCast fits a funeral
There are three common cases. A family running a private memorial service who do not want it on a public YouTube channel, where a paywall functions as access control rather than a fundraiser. A family asking for donations to a charity in lieu of flowers, where every livestream ticket goes to that charity at a reduced commission. And a funeral home or videographer offering livestream as a service to bereaved families who want to include relatives abroad without making the service public.
For pure community parish funerals where the priest is already streaming on the parish YouTube channel for free, PassCast is not the right fit and we say so plainly. The platform is for the situations where private control or charitable fundraising is the point.
Reduced commission for registered charities
When a funeral livestream is run as a fundraiser for a registered charity (UK Charity Commission or Irish Charities Regulator number required), PassCast operates a reduced commission rate to maximise the donation reaching the charity. The standard 20% Community share is reviewed downwards on a case-by-case basis. The family or charity provides the registered charity number during signup and the team adjusts the rate before the event goes live.
Tone and presentation
A funeral event page on PassCast is plain by default. No marketing banners, no upsells, no auto-playing videos. The viewer arrives, buys a ticket if there is one, and watches. Replays are available for 72 hours so relatives in different time zones can watch when they are able. The family controls who is named on the event page and what details are made public.
See it in action
Browse live and upcoming events from organisations already using PassCast on the Community Hub.
Visit the Community HubFrequently asked questions
Should we charge for a funeral livestream?
For a parish funeral run as a community service, free streaming on the parish YouTube channel is usually the right answer. PassCast is for the situations where the family wants private access control or where the livestream is being run as a fundraiser for a charity. In those cases a small ticket of £5 to £10 covers the technical cost and, in the charity case, contributes to the cause.
How does the charity rate work?
When a livestream is being run as a fundraiser for a registered charity, PassCast reduces the standard 20% revenue share. The family or charity provides the charity registration number during signup and the team adjusts the rate before the event goes live. This ensures the maximum amount of the ticket price reaches the cause.
Can we make the livestream private to family only?
Yes. The event page can be unlisted, so only people sent the link can buy a ticket. Tickets are single-device, so a paid stream cannot be casually shared on social media. The family controls every aspect of who can see the page.
What if a relative in another time zone cannot watch live?
PassCast automatically converts the live stream into a 72-hour replay. A relative in Australia, the United States, or anywhere else can watch the recorded service in their own time within the replay window. The family can extend the window if needed.
How discreet is the livestream camera at a funeral?
The camera setup is the responsibility of the family's videographer or funeral home. PassCast does not require any visible branding at the venue. A single discreet camera on a tripod at the back of the church or chapel is the most common setup and is invisible to most attendees.
Is the recording kept for the family afterwards?
Yes. After the 72-hour replay window closes, the family can request the original recording for their private archive. PassCast does not retain or republish funeral recordings.
Set up a private or fundraising funeral stream
Contact us before signing up so we can set the right commission rate and make sure the event is configured sensitively before it goes live.
Contact us first