Carleton Michigan Newspaper

American newspapers are facing the possible loss of another huge source of revenue and readership, the traditional publication of death notices.

First, newspapers lost much of their display revenue to television and then lost much of their classified and subscription income to the Internet. Now they’re on the verge of losing at least some of their obituary revenue to television and websites.

WNEM Sagonaw Pioneers TV Death Listings

According to Ad Age.Magazine, television station WNEM in Saginaw, Michigan began selling obituaries at $100 when local newspapers reduced their publication frequency to just three days a week. Now, the Meredith Corp., owners of WNEM, may expand the service to its other stations and use obitMichigan.com as a partnership website to supplement its TV death listings.