iOS · USA TODAY Co., Inc.

The Providence Journal, R.I.

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

85/100

165 lines · 130 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

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

15 −9 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 (15)

line 12     openx.com, 559091134, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: https://openx.com/sellers.json
line 87     openx.com, 540060988, DIRECT, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: https://openx.com/sellers.json
line 88     rubiconproject.com, 10968, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 90     rubiconproject.com, 17346, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 91     rubiconproject.com, 17816, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 94     smaato.com, 1100033996, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 96     smaato.com, 1100041070, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 107    appnexus.com, 1908, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: https://appnexus.com/sellers.json
line 110    google.com, pub-5995202563537249, RESELLER, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → sellers_json: https://realtimebidding.google.com/sellers.json
line 114    pubmatic.com, 156719-D, DIRECT, 5d62403b186f2ace
             → sellers_json: https://pubmatic.com/sellers.json
line 184    tremorhub.com, z87wm, RESELLER, 1a4e959a1b50034a
             → sellers_json: https://tremorhub.com/sellers.json
line 190    triplelift.com, 2793, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 192    triplelift.com, 2862-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 194    triplelift.com, 4655-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 196    triplelift.com, 4656-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json

warning

DIRECT lines inconsistent with public data

5 −3 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 (5)

line 82     lijit.com, 293450-eb, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: GateHouse Media, LLC (via Google EB)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 90     rubiconproject.com, 17346, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies
line 92     sharethrough.com, caf7e432, DIRECT, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 10 different companies  name in sellers.json: District M (DMX)  domain in sellers.json: districtm.io
line 93     smaato.com, 1100004890, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 163 different companies  name in sellers.json: Smaato Managed  domain in sellers.json: smaato.com
line 115    pubmatic.com, 157904, DIRECT, 5d62403b186f2ace
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies  name in sellers.json: USA Today Sports Media Group (via EB)  domain in sellers.json: google.com

info

DIRECT accounts registered to another domain

9 −2 pts

Allowed when the domain belongs to the same company; add OWNERDOMAIN to make that explicit. Otherwise these accounts may belong to someone else.

How to fixIf the account is yours under another domain, declare it with OWNERDOMAIN=<that domain>; otherwise mark it RESELLER.

Evidence (9)

line 6      amagi.com, 59068, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: Gannett
line 35     sharethrough.com, 4944, DIRECT, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: Gannett USA Today
line 36     sharethrough.com, oGoqRVSG, DIRECT, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
             → domain in sellers.json: usatodayco.com  name in sellers.json: Gannett - Equativ
line 37     smartadserver.com, 4944, DIRECT, 060d053dcf45cbf3
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: Gannett USA Today
line 72     appnexus.com, 7155, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: usatodayco.com  name in sellers.json: USA Today Network
line 81     lijit.com, 293450, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
             → domain in sellers.json: gatehousemedia.com  name in sellers.json: GateHouse Media, LLC
line 97     smartadserver.com, 4944, DIRECT, 060d053dcf45cbf3
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: Gannett USA Today
line 119    seedtag.com, 695e60558b220900076469b6, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: USAToday Co., Inc.
line 127    stnvideo.com, STN_0000991, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: usatoday.com  name in sellers.json: USAT Sports Media

info

Duplicate lines

2 −1 pts

Harmless but a sign of copy-paste maintenance.

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

Evidence (2)

ad_system: smartadserver.com  seller_id: 4944  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: media.net  seller_id: 8cus4f6p3  relationship: DIRECT

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 (12)

line 11     lgads.tv, 830718, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403 to automated requests
line 29     criteo.com, B-062125, DIRECT, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403 to automated requests
line 64     zetaglobal.net, 989, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 404
line 67     gannett.com, 1, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403 to automated requests
line 70     advertising.com, 28613, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403 to automated requests
line 71     aol.com, 4941, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 404
line 98     sovrn.com, 293450, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403 to automated requests
line 104    yieldmo.com, 2150737881135219824, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: bot-check or captcha page (HTTP 202)
line 108    facebook.com, 1315387205234309, RESELLER, c3e20eee3f780d68
             → sellers_json: returns a web page, not a sellers.json file
line 109    facebook.com, 831080517098836, RESELLER, c3e20eee3f780d68
             → sellers_json: returns a web page, not a sellers.json file
line 146    yieldmo.com, 3584282742088475163, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: bot-check or captcha page (HTTP 202)
line 169    facebook.com, 10152627269236356, RESELLER, c3e20eee3f780d68
             → sellers_json: returns a web page, not a sellers.json file

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