Not everybody digests information in the same way. Perhaps you read Commsrisk because the written word is best for you. Some find it easier to understand data when it is presented as a diagram or animation. Others learn most when listening, or need to engage with someone who can answer their questions. 2020 was a disastrous year in many respects, but it increased the impetus for the Risk & Assurance Group (RAG) to use the internet to deliver news and advice in fresh and entertaining ways. One outcome was RAG TV, a weekly broadcast which quickly gained traction with international audiences. Viewers also exhibited different preferences for how they consumed the show: some watched live to interact with the expert guests, whilst others preferred the convenience of watching the recordings at a time of their choosing. The combined audience averaged over 500 viewers per episode for Season 2 of RAG TV, so we had high hopes when we began planning for Season 3. Even so, the level of audience engagement for the first show of the new season, which was streamed yesterday, surpassed all expectations.
Co-presenter Lee Scargall (pictured left) and I reviewed the major talking points of 2020, including:
- How COVID-19 accelerated the transition of some countries to becoming cashless societies powered by mobile money;
- Why US initatives designed to stop robocalls have delivered poor results so far, but why the US still expects other countries to follow their lead;
- The impact of consolidation on telcos and vendors and how this will affect the job market for risk and assurance professionals; and
- Who is winning and losing Cold War 2 and the battle for network security between the USA and China.
We also discussed the results of the RAG RAFM Survey, and responded to as many comments and questions from viewers as we could in the time available. You can watch the recording below. I am writing this just a few hours after the show was broadcast, but the statistics so far suggest Season 3 is set to smash the audience records for Season 2. That must be a good thing – not just for me, but for everybody who realizes we cannot address the serious risks and issues of the global communications sector without raising awarness of potential solutions and fostering increased cooperation between businesses and nations. Stay informed by subscribing to the broadcast calendar so your diary always includes every show in the right time zone for you, keep an eye on the guests lined up by checking the weekly program schedule, and Twitch users can follow RAG’s Twitch channel.
