Media Notes

CBS and ESPN execs have “instructed their announcers” not to refer to the Georgia-Florida college football game in Jacksonville as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” on Saturday. That follows a request by Georgia President Michael Adams and Florida President Bernie Machen, “who want to do away with the game’s reputation as a drunkfest for tailgaters.” CBS studio host Tim Brando: “If my superiors don’t want me to say it, that’s fine. But as a broadcaster, I’m a little offended by the assertion that our use of the phrase has any kind of influence over how people behave at this game.” But SEC Commissioner Mike Slive indicated that “no one is blaming TV for playing any role in the excessive drinking that goes on surrounding” the game. CBS Sports Ecec VP & Exec Producer Tony Petitti: “There are certain things you go to the mat for but this isn’t one of them” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/24).

HABS AND HAB-NOTS: In Toronto, William Houston writes French-language RDS’ audiences for Canadiens games are up 23% from last season, when audiences increased 44% from the season before the lockout. However, viewers outside Quebec need either a satellite dish or digital cable to view the channel. The Canadiens are the “only NHL team in Canada without an English-language regional deal,” because the market in Quebec “isn’t large enough to draw interest from a network” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/24).

PEOPLE & PERSONALITIES: ESPN/ABC Sports Senior Dir of Communications George McNeilly said that Frank Stoddard will not be part of ESPN/ABC’s NASCAR coverage after he “decided he could not fulfill his commitment to help run a NASCAR team in 2007 and be an analyst” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/24)....Brewers play-by-play announcer Daron Sutton “will not return for the 2007 season.” Sutton, who had been with the club since ’02, said he was leaving to pursue “several opportunities presented to me recently” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/24)....Former NBAer Kendall Gill will join Norm Van Lier and Mark Schanowski on Comcast SportsNet’s studio coverage of the Bulls this season, replacing Stacey King, who is moving to the game announce team (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/24)....Jack Ramsay “will return with Jim Durham on ESPN Radio” for the upcoming NBA season. Kevin Calabro and Will Purdue also will call games (CHRON.com, 10/23).