Top Questions from Our Obituary Webinar—Answered by the Experts

April 21, 2025

We were flooded with questions during and after our recent Tribute Technology webinar, Why Obituaries Should Be Your #1 Focus This Year. The session explored a powerful shift in how obituary pages can drive long-term value—and introduced a new opportunity: Tribute Technology’s partnership with Chptr, a company that broadcasts death notices on local TV as part of nightly news segments. 


Joining us live was Chptr’s Founder and CEO, Rehan Choudhry, who helped funeral professionals understand how this partnership—and the new Tribute Spotlights offering—can strengthen their brand, serve families better, and reconnect with their communities in a meaningful way. 


If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here. We’ve also rounded up the top questions from attendees—along with expert answers—to help you quickly get up to speed. 


1. Can Tribute Spotlights video announcements be shared on our funeral home’s YouTube channel? 


Absolutely. Both the funeral home and the family receive the finished video, which means you can post it to YouTube, add it to your website, or share it across your social media channels. It’s an easy, shareable way to extend the obituary’s reach. 


 

2. Are some funeral homes paying for the service themselves to grow market share? 


Yes—and they’re seeing it as a smart investment. Many funeral homes are covering the cost of Tribute Spotlights to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. It’s an added-value service that leaves a lasting impression with families and builds long-term brand recognition in the community. 



3. Is it broadcast over-the-air (OTA) and on linear TV? 


Yes, in most markets. Death announcements air on both: 


  • Over-the-air (OTA): Free, local channels accessible via antenna 
  • Linear TV: Scheduled programming via cable or satellite 


This dual approach ensures maximum exposure, especially for audiences that may not use streaming platforms. 



4. Are Tribute Spotlights videos only on-air, or are they also online? 


Both. Announcements are featured during designated TV broadcast times and published on the station’s memorials webpage, offering families and communities multiple ways to engage. 


 

5. How long are the videos? 

Each segment is 30 seconds, with individual obituaries typically receiving 3–5 seconds per airing. 


 

6. Does Tribute Spotlights work with CFS websites or only Tribute sites? 


Tribute Spotlights integrate with all website platforms—including CFS—so you don’t need to change your provider to take advantage of this service. 

 


7. How do families know when and where to watch the broadcast? 


Each participating market has set channels and air times. Your funeral home will receive all the relevant details, so you can easily pass them along to the families you serve. 



8. If we have multiple obituaries, do they split the 30-second segment? 


Yes. If you submit four obituaries, for example, each typically receives around 7 seconds. In some markets, your funeral home may even qualify for exclusive broadcast segments. 


 

9. Who owns the obituary video? 


You and the family do. Both parties receive copies with full rights to use, post, or share the video however they’d like. 

 


10. Does each announcement get a full 30 seconds? 


No, but frequency matters. Each announcement usually gets 3–5 seconds, and they’re aired multiple times—often 10 or more—to maximize reach and visibility. 


 

11. Can we get reporting from the local station? 


Yes. Tribute Spotlights and Chptr provide pre- and post-airing reports with full analytics, so you can track performance, exposure, and community impact. 



12. What’s the average cost per TV spot? 


Thanks to Tribute Technology’s negotiated pricing, the full announcement package—which includes TV broadcast, video production, and social media distribution—is just $225 on average. Volume discounts are available for funeral homes bundling multiple announcements. 

 


Ready to Learn More? 


Tribute Spotlights is a unique and affordable way to elevate the services you offer while helping families feel honored, seen, and remembered. Whether you're interested in expanding your reach, enhancing your brand, or simply offering something new and meaningful, this tool was designed with your funeral home in mind. 


Have more questions? We’re always here to help. 


July 30, 2026
A year after integrating with Chptr, Tribute Technology customers can now reach a quarter of a billion monthly radio listeners through the same one-click workflow that already powers televised memorial announcements. WAUNAKEE, Wis. — July 30, 2026 — Tribute Technology today announced that its integration with Chptr now extends beyond local television to include radio through Chptr's expanded partnership with iHeartMedia. Already adopted by more than 100 funeral homes, the expanded integration gives funeral homes access to the television and radio audiences most likely to learn about a passing, attend a service, and support grieving families, all through the same one-click obituary workflow. One year ago, Tribute Technology embedded Chptr's broadcast memorial technology directly into its platform, making it possible for funeral homes to transform an obituary into a professionally produced television memorial announcement without leaving the system they already use every day. Today, that same integration includes nationwide radio distribution alongside television, giving funeral homes access to all 210 U.S. television markets and more than 90 percent of U.S. radio stations reaching a quarter of a billion monthly listeners, all without additional software, data entry, or training. More than 100 funeral homes have already enrolled in the new radio service, reflecting the success of Chptr's existing television integration and the continued demand for trusted broadcast memorial announcements. For funeral homes, the value of broadcast isn't simply reach. It's reaching the right audience. Adults 55 and older remain among the most loyal local television viewers, while radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, more than any other single media platform. Together, television and radio continue to be among the nation's most trusted sources of local news and information, making them uniquely effective channels for community memorial announcements. "This is exactly what we look for in a partnership," said J.B. Showalter, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Chptr. "Tribute Technology already sits inside the daily workflow of thousands of funeral homes. Bringing our production platform, media partnerships, and nationwide television and radio distribution into that same workflow means families get a meaningful new way to share the news of a passing, without asking funeral professionals to change how they already serve families." For families, the expanded integration means memorial announcements can now reach more of the people whose lives were touched through the trusted local media they already know. For funeral homes, it provides another meaningful way to serve families while reinforcing their role as a trusted community resource. "Over the last year, we've seen that families truly value having their loved one's obituary shared on local television," said ​Anthony Harris, Location Manager at Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services. "No single place reaches everyone. Some people watch the news. Others hear the local radio station on the way to work. Adding radio gives us another trusted way to help families reach more of the people who would want to know. It's another meaningful service we can provide with every arrangement." The addition of radio builds on a year of successful television distribution through the existing Tribute Technology integration. "Our responsibility is to continually strengthen the platform funeral homes depend on every day," said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. "When we can bring meaningful new capabilities into that workflow without adding complexity, our customers benefit. Expanding our integration with Chptr is another example of our commitment to helping funeral professionals better serve families through the technology they already trust." The expanded integration is now available to all Tribute Technology customers. Learn more at Tribute Spotlights | TV Obituaries | Tribute Technology .  About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for the death care profession, helping funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and online publishers better serve families through connected technology. Its integrated platform simplifies operations, strengthens family engagement, and powers one of North America's largest digital obituary networks. More than 9,000 funeral homes rely on Tribute Technology solutions to support the families they serve. About Chptr Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is building the distribution network for community storytelling. The company's Broadcast, Social, Video, and Slideshows offerings help funeral homes extend the reach of remembrance, connecting families with the communities that knew and cared about their loved ones. By partnering with funeral homes and media organizations, Chptr ensures life's most meaningful stories reach the people who matter most while keeping funeral professionals at the center of the experience.
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