Behind-the-scenes: What it took to set a world record in 25+ hours

Louisville, Ky. (October 14, 2026) - Twenty-five hours on air took nearly a full year of planning and a team that did not stop.

When Connected Nation (CN) set out to earn a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the longest internet literacy live stream, the goal was bigger than a record. The event was designed to raise awareness of digital literacy, celebrate CN’s 25th anniversary, and show why closing the Digital Divide matters.

What follows is a brief look at everything it took to get there, along with a photo gallery that takes you behind the scenes of the big day.

Months of planning

Long before the cameras went live, CN staff built the course schedule, recruited and prepared partners across time zones, and created the live production from the ground up. In the weeks leading up to the event, the team ran individual tech tests with each partner site, followed by a full dress rehearsal on September 23. 

At the same time, CN worked to make sure the world would be watching. Promotional toolkits, social media campaigns, news stories, podcasts, and dedicated web content helped partners spread the word. Support from lead collaborator AT&T and other partners and sponsors, including Amazon and Netflix, along with CN’s first-ever influencer partnership, extended the reach even further.

Inside the broadcast

Once the stream went live, the work just got more intense. Staff hosted and anchored segments, handed off between partners around the world, kept the network and stream running through the night, and documented every hour for GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ review.  

The event was broadcast live from Louisville-based Hatfield Media. CN could not have achieved the world record without the support and partnership of the company’s incredible production staff.

CN and Hatfield Media's teams faced no shortage of challenges. The Guinness World Records organization set strict requirements: the live stream could not drop for more than one minute, and at least 50 unique viewers had to be watching at all times. That meant the team could not rest for even a moment.

A true team effort

Pulling off a 25-plus-hour live event took everyone. Staff from across the organization stepped outside their usual roles, learned new skills, and put in the time and energy needed to make history. But don’t take our word for it. Check out the gallery below for a look at what happened behind the scenes.

Want to learn more? Explore the event at 25 Hours, One Connected World and find tools and materials on the resources page.