To be fair, the only way to make the qualifying day shorter is by allowing fewer athletes and I really don't think that's a good trade-off for the sport. Qualifying day can be the biggest spectacle one can imagine, it's still not going to draw amazing viewing numbers anyway, since it's basically just laying the foundation for the weekend.   Ice resurfacing definitely takes a while if done properly, if pushing it they could maybe get it done just under 15 minutes or so. I'm a little afraid it goes the way of athletics, where things are pushed more and more into ever shorter formats. Shorttrack days and sessions can only realistically be made shorter if they spread a World Cup out over 4 instead of 3 days, but it's not like Thursday is going to be a massive audience day.

I wish the ISU would make each of the sessions shorter… they all last between 3-5 hours (and sometimes 10 hours with the qualifying sessions) and me personally I find it highly annoying and unnecessary, because there’s so many breaks in between (for ice resurfacing it’s understandable, but it doesn’t take the 15-20 minutes long breaks to do it…)

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The only thing I can think of that has gotten in the way can be geo-restrictions, like the Fridays being available on YouTube, but not the Saturdays and Sundays, preventing new people from really getting into it. Somehow I doubt a new format means it will be made more welcoming for new viewers though...

But what can be improved? Broadcasting has for years already been excellent, with races that are quite clear to follow and fine graphics that have all we need. How is "Suzanne Schulting for the Dutch Lions!" instead of "Suzanne Schulting from the Netherlands!" going to make it a better 'broadcast product'?

I do think we need a rethink of how short track is packaged as a broadcast product given how little money is involved. Pretty hard to make a living in that sport.

Finals are set    An all-Canadian final on the women’s side, as Team Homan looks to win their third title of the season (and improve to 18-1) against a hungry Team Einarson who have had a less than ideal start to the season, they were also the last Canadian team to beat Homan over a year ago (same event coincidentally), while on the men’s side it’ll be a battle between Olympic medalists as Team Mouat goes against Team Gushue!

Yeah, it was clear. But i repeat, we need it? I think no.

GSOC HearingLife Tour Challenge Semifinals  Women  Team Fujisawa v.  Team Einarson  Team Lawes v.  Team Homan   Men  Team Mouat v.  Team McEwen  Team Dunstone v.  Team Gushue

In the past the ISU has now allowed countries without a Federation to compete.