Scott Rintoul is helping to revive 'Sports Page' in a new form
In its initial run, Sports Page was one of the most innovative and influential sports shows on television.
The local Vancouver/Victoria program ran for nearly three decades from 1977 to 2005, and launched the careers of multiple broadcasters, including Don Taylor, John Shorthouse, and Dan Murphy, and influenced many more.
Now, a version of Sports Page is making its return.
The old ‘Sports Page’ desk showcased at the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 (Rob Williams/Offside)
According to a press release, “Sports Page BC is a new digital sports media platform dedicated to covering sports from every corner of British Columbia,” and will officially launch later in October.
Adding credibility to the launch is co-founder Scott Rintoul, a veteran broadcaster who got his start with Sports Page.
Scott Rintoul is helping to launch Sports Page BC. (Better Sports Parents/YouTube)
“One of the things that made the original Sports Page so special was that it celebrated the entire sports community,” said Rintoul in the press release. “It wasn’t just about the biggest teams or the biggest headlines. Young athletes, local coaches, community builders, and hometown success stories all had a place.
“Sports Page BC is built on that same spirit. We want young athletes across British Columbia to see themselves reflected in the stories we tell and to know that their achievements matter. If we can help shine a light on the next generation while bringing communities together through sport, we’ll be accomplishing exactly what this platform was created to do.”
The launch comes at a time when local sports coverage has taken a hit. Sportsnet shuttered sports talk radio station Sportsnet 650 in July, while TSN 1040 was shut down back in 2021.
Many broadcasters have gone independent with podcasts and online shows, to the point that live sports talk can still be found in Vancouver from 7 a.m. to midnight almost every day.
Most of that sports talk is centred around the Vancouver Canucks, however, leaving large segments of the provincial sports scene without a voice. That’s where Sports Page BC hopes to step in.
“The platform brings together experience in sports broadcasting, digital publishing, and business, united by a belief that B.C.’s sports community would benefit from a more connected approach to coverage,” reads the press release. “A local achievement can resonate well beyond a hometown audience, while a provincial platform can help readers discover athletes, teams, and competitions they might otherwise miss.”
The platform is currently recruiting “writers, photographers, broadcasters, and aspiring journalists.”