AstraZeneca has completed a deal to pay $520 million to settle federal investigations into its marketing practices for its schizophrenia drug, Seroquel. The London-based company was accused of paying kickbacks to doctors as part of an illegal scheme to market the drugs for unapproved uses such as by children, the elderly, veterans and prisoners. Glenn Engelmann, AstraZeneca’s U.S. general counsel, released a statement saying the company denies the allegations but settled the investigation with the payment. AstraZeneca agreed to sign a corporate integrity agreement with the federal government over its marketing of Seroquel for unapproved uses, …

Big sports events, big nature specials seem ripe of 3D TV. But other stuff – not so much. “Probably no need to see 'The View' in 3D,â€� says Bryan Burns, vp of strategic business planning and development for ESPN, during a panel session at the MediaPost Outfront event. Burns says you can also throw out local TV newscasts. “You probably don't need to see your local anchors in 3D.â€� ESPN's first in-house produced 3D event for its new 3D channel will be its “Home Run Derbyâ€� contest around All-Star weekend in July. What about 3D ads in that …

The Pew Internet Project released a new report today on the state of Government Online. You can view/download a copy at http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Government-Online.aspx. The report documents how government efforts to make their data available are resonating with the public. Surprisingly large numbers of Americans are going online for data about government spending and activities. Our national survey finds that many online adults are engaging with government using tools such as blogs and social networking sites, and are participating in the online debate around government policies and issues.

Bill Stewart, who left the CMO position at Kmart in 2008 to volunteer for an organization dedicated to protecting gay marriage, will become the first “CMO-in-Residence� for NBC Universal in May. The quarterly program will tap the expertise of former chief marketing officers from major corporations. According to a news release, the ex-CMOs will work with the team to “leverage NBCU’s portfolio of assets to create customized, innovative, insights-driven programs tailored to meet clients’ business objectives.�

While ceding that Fox's Glenn Beck had done a good job in bringing in news viewers, it's still a small part of the overall business. MSNBC's Chris Matthews, at the MediaPost's Outfront event, says virtually all cable news shows -- Beck's or Matthews own "Hardball" is a small piece of the business – essentially “one percent.� Overall the diversity is good news, says Matthews, as compared to the “old days when all you had was Walter Cronkite.� What TV shows – news or otherwise – should people watch? Matthews says anything where you learn something.

When MediaPost senior writer David Goetzl asked Chris Matthews to, "Tell me something I don't know," Matthews responded, "You're smarter than I thought you were." Normally, that kind of back-handed complement would be an insult. Coming from Matthews, it was an accolade. And for the record, Matthews is right about Goetzl, which is probably one of the reasons he agreed to be interviewed by him at MEDIA magazine's Outfront 2010 conference today.