Android · The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC

The Atlantic

Developer URL: https://www.theatlantic.com
app-ads.txt: https://www.theatlantic.com/app-ads.txt · 200
Checked: Oct 7, 2026

77/100

200 lines · 166 verified against sellers.json

Findings

Each finding lists the exact lines involved. Findings are automated observations of public files as of Oct 7, 2026. They describe file contents, not the intent or conduct of any company.

warning

DIRECT lines inconsistent with public data

11 −18 pts

The ads.txt specification defines DIRECT as an account the publisher directly controls. For these lines, either the ad system's own sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY, or the same account is marked DIRECT in the files of 3 or more unrelated companies. Either way, the public data does not support the DIRECT label. Buyers that use DIRECT labels in supply-path decisions may treat these lines differently.

How to fixUse DIRECT only for accounts your company controls. Confirm with each partner whether the account is yours; if it isn't, the specification calls for RESELLER.

Evidence (11)

line 6      pubmatic.com, 157234, DIRECT, 5d62403b186f2ace #ob
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: Atlantic Media Co. (via EB)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 7      rubiconproject.com, 18850, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807 #ob
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: Google  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 9      themediagrid.com, DXW9CT, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d #dianomi
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies
line 10     rubiconproject.com, 14474, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807 #dianomi
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies  name in sellers.json: Dianomi Inc,  domain in sellers.json: dianomi.com
line 11     triplelift.com, 859-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86 #eb
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: Atlantic (via EB Network)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 28     adsbynimbus.com, 9381145f-8ee6-44bc-817e-e82fce9021a2, DIRECT, dd263a8a859bd0e0
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies  name in sellers.json: Straight Arrow News | SAN  domain in sellers.json: san.com
line 112    themediagrid.com, A7OJMU, DIRECT, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 36 different companies  name in sellers.json: Nimbus Advertising Solutions  domain in sellers.json: adsbynimbus.com
line 124    themediagrid.com, a7ojmu, direct, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 36 different companies  name in sellers.json: Nimbus Advertising Solutions  domain in sellers.json: adsbynimbus.com
line 141    themediagrid.com, a7ojmu, direct, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 36 different companies  name in sellers.json: Nimbus Advertising Solutions  domain in sellers.json: adsbynimbus.com
line 173    risecodes.com, 5fad0eb54fdc5c00016859b1, DIRECT
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 6 different companies  name in sellers.json: MediaTradecraft  domain in sellers.json: mediatradecraft.com
line 192    tappx.com, 43794, DIRECT, 9f375a07da0318ec
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies

warning

Seller IDs not listed in the ad system's sellers.json

6 −3 pts

The ad system's current sellers.json doesn't list these accounts, so buyers that validate the chain can't match them. Common causes are closed accounts or former partners.

How to fixAsk each partner whether the account is still active and request their current lines; remove lines for closed accounts.

Evidence (6)

line 9      themediagrid.com, DXW9CT, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d #dianomi
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 13     triplelift.com, 934, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86 #ob
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 14     triplelift.com, 934-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86 #ob
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 38     smartadserver.com, 4012, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://smartadserver.com/sellers.json
line 42     smilewanted.com, 4391, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://smilewanted.com/sellers.json
line 80     adelement.com, 48268, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://adelement.com/sellers.json

info

Duplicate lines

15 −2 pts

Harmless but a sign of copy-paste maintenance.

How to fixRemove duplicates; keep one copy of each line.

Evidence (15)

ad_system: sharethrough.com  seller_id: 4881  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: motorik.io  seller_id: 100463  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: triplelift.com  seller_id: 14699  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: singularads.com  seller_id: 554841  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: rubiconproject.com  seller_id: 26292  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: xandr.com  seller_id: 15840  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: pangleglobal.com  seller_id: 5034579  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: axonix.com  seller_id: 59236  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: appnexus.com  seller_id: 12616  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: triplelift.com  seller_id: 14709  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: rubiconproject.com  seller_id: 17476  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: kargo.com  seller_id: 9132  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: themediagrid.com  seller_id: a7ojmu  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: axis-marketplace.com  seller_id: 335  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: yieldmo.com  seller_id: 3746143199094055132  relationship: RESELLER

info

Ad systems without a public sellers.json

The ad system doesn't publish a readable sellers.json, so nobody can verify these lines. That's the ad system's gap, not the app's, so no points are deducted.

How to fixAsk the partner to publish sellers.json; until then buyers can't verify that path.

Evidence (22)

line 18     appnexus.com, 7498, DIRECT #prebid
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 34     openx.com, 540274407, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 45     appnexus.com, 12061, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 46     freewheel.tv, 1601349, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 54     startapp.com, 143265457, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 404
line 60     loopme.com, 11499, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 75     appnexus.com, 12976, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 76     freewheel.tv, 1601610, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 85     eskimi.com, 2020000807, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 104    appnexus.com, 12616, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 109    appnexus.com, 8173, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 115    appnexus.com, 12616, reseller, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 129    appnexus.com, 12616, reseller, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 136    ogury.com, 065d4ff5-a269-44be-9634-9d4d7af2dfc3, reseller
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 152    eskimi.com, 2020000030, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 153    freewheel.tv, 1599106, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 154    freewheel.tv, 1599109, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 156    loopme.com, 15665, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 157    loopme.com, 9724, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 183    openx.com, 537140488, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 187    loopme.com, 11362, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 196    loopme.com, 11227, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403

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