U.K.-based Diageo PLC (DGE.LN) and France's Pernod Ricard SA (RI.FR), the world's No. 1 and 2 spirits companies by revenue, respectively, are diverting more advertising spend away from traditional formats like television. Thirst for whisky, rum and vodka in Latin America, Africa and Asia has accelerated as adult populations have expanded and incomes have risen, and companies see the improved online access in developing markets through laptops, tablet computers and smartphones as an opportunity to drive sales.

The study of 2,000 British people as part of a survey commissioned by BT found that over half of female internet users used social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook, whilst only 34% of men surveyed admitted to doing so. Similarly, out of those surveyed, 18% of women believed that, if the internet no longer existed, they would miss social media websites the most. This compares to just 7% of men, most of whom said they would miss most the ease of administration online, such as web banking.

The survey by BT revealed that about 48% of those using the internet in Scotland regularly access social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, compared with 20% in Northern Ireland and almost 43 per cent in Wales. In England, the figures are 33% in the North-east, 39% in the South-west and 45.7% in London. Social networks are equal to news and current affairs websites in terms of popularity north of the Border, with those sites also regularly accessed by slightly more than 48% of Scottish internet surfers.

The Social Brands 100, carried out by social media agency Headstream in partnership with monitoring firm Brandwatch, analysed the online engagement of over 300 brands. The ranking took 19 separate factors into account, featuring a combination of metrics for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, Google+ and blogging. It found that charities occupy half of the top six positions on the list, which Brandwatch CEO Giles Palmer puts down to a lack of fear on their part. "This is best summed up by the not-for-profit and charity organisations, who are leading the way because they're not afraid to be human online and …

To that end, it has partnered with Rightster, the video distribution and monetisation solutions provider, to enhance and manage its YouTube channels. The partnership aims to make accessing the Guardian's award-winning multimedia content easier for YouTube users, whilst effectively building new engaged audiences and digital revenues. Announcing the partnership, GNM revealed that its Three Little Pigs campaign advert has now been viewed on its YouTube channel over 1 million times, making it the Guardian's most-viewed YouTube video since the channel launched in 2006.

YouView, formerly known as Project Canvas, will initially be tested in 350 homes. Originally the system, which requires a set-top box to use, was earmarked for a 2010 launch but has been beset with technical problems. The free web-connected TV service combines Freeview digital channels with on-demand content such as iPlayer. The firm, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five, TalkTalk, BT and Arquiva, said it would go to a much wider trial within a month if the small pilot was successful.

This weekend saw the long-heralded implementation of new regulations in the UK around "cookies", digital morsels of data that can track surfing behaviour across the web, and an accompanying last-minute rush from several popular websites to comply, with many using small pop-up messages on their homepages. Surveys of both consumers and companies show that most remain confused about the 2009 European e-privacy directive, which requires website owners to obtain the consent of their visitors to the use of cookies.

It is the first time the regional newspaper group is using tablets as a field reporting device, Nigel Vincent, head of editorial development for Newsquest Digital Media, told Journalism.co.uk. ournalists will be using iPads to liveblog from the Olympic games, directly feeding into the publisher's new content management system. Journalists will also be using the publisher's new in-house iPhone and iPad appto file live reports.

The much-delayed internet TV venture by some of the UK's biggest broadcasters and broadband providers, will finally be put to the test by members of the public this week after three years in development. An "alpha" trial of some 350 homes was agreed last week by YouView's board, which is chaired by Lord Sugar, the former Amstrad entrepreneur and host of The Apprentice reality TV show.

The AELTC will use the video sharing platform to launch Live@Wimbledon, its digital media service that shows matches as well as pre-filmed content such as behind-the-scenes interviews, match previews, highlights and archive footage. Coverage will be streamed on Wimbledon.com, the tournament's official iPhone and Android apps, as well as on Dailymotion, whose global audience reaches 115 million monthly unique visitors according to its vice-president of international content Daniel Adams.