iOS · NBC News Digital, LLC

NBC News: Breaking & US News

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

61/100

144 lines · 72 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

47 −24 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 (25 of 47)

line 6      freewheel.tv, 169843, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies
line 16     freewheel.tv, 169843-524565, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 6 different companies
line 64     freewheel.tv, 512029, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 11 different companies
line 65     appnexus.com, 17499, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 10 different companies
line 66     telaria.com,8jhse-ifyq9,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Verizon Fios  domain in sellers.json: verizon.com
line 67     tremorhub.com,8jhse-ifyq9,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Verizon Fios  domain in sellers.json: verizon.com
line 68     telaria.com,m8r1c-o0139,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Verizon Fios  domain in sellers.json: verizon.com
line 69     tremorhub.com,m8r1c-o0139,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Verizon Fios  domain in sellers.json: verizon.com
line 76     springserve.com,1135, DIRECT, a24eb641fc82e93d
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies
line 78     spotx.tv, 239904, DIRECT, 7842df1d2fe2db34
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 6 different companies
line 93     google.com, pub-4716253307645677, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies  name in sellers.json: Radio Time, Inc  domain in sellers.json: tunein.com
line 94     google.com, pub-1075310851762143, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies  name in sellers.json: Radio Time, Inc  domain in sellers.json: tunein.com
line 95     rubiconproject.com, 18824, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies
line 96     rubiconproject.com, 11236, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies  name in sellers.json: TuneIn Inc.  domain in sellers.json: tunein.com
line 97     adswizz.com, tunein, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies
line 100    targetspot.com, 172, DIRECT, feb28ed826dcf532
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies  name in sellers.json: TuneIn  domain in sellers.json: tunein.com
line 107    indexexchange.com, 197202, DIRECT, 50b1c356f2c5c8fc
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies
line 113    lijit.com, 491414, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b #SOVRN
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies  name in sellers.json: LG Ads Solutions  domain in sellers.json: lgads.tv
line 116    yahoo.com, 59137, DIRECT, e1a5b5b6e3255540
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies
line 117    telaria.com,amgyk-mxvjr,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Samsung Ads  domain in sellers.json: samsung.com
line 118    tremorhub.com,amgyk-mxvjr,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies  name in sellers.json: Samsung Ads  domain in sellers.json: samsung.com
line 119    magnite.com,amgyk-mxvjr,DIRECT,1a4e959a1b50034a
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies
line 120    smaato.com, 1100047232, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies
line 121    indexexchange.com, 193280, DIRECT, 50b1c356f2c5c8fc
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies
line 122    themediagrid.com, OWXYER, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 7 different companies

warning

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

9 −10 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 (9)

line 40     tremorhub.com, z87wm, RESELLER, 1a4e959a1b50034a
             → sellers_json: https://tremorhub.com/sellers.json
line 79     rubiconproject.com, 21134, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 80     rubiconproject.com, 17346, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 #EBDA
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 95     rubiconproject.com, 18824, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json
line 120    smaato.com, 1100047232, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 122    themediagrid.com, OWXYER, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 146    aps.amazon.com, 3d45668-23d1-4eca-a762-4c4c87f95e23, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: https://aps.amazon.com/sellers.json
line 154    triplelift.com, 890-EB, DIRECT, 6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 161    applovin.com, 900001, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: https://applovin.com/sellers.json

warning

Lines for ad system domains that don't resolve

4 −3 pts

These ad system domains don't resolve (the domain may be retired, merged or misspelled). The lines can't be validated, and if the domain is registered again, its new holder would appear authorized.

How to fixRemove these lines. If the domain is registered again, its new holder would appear authorized by your file.

Evidence (4)

line 9      spotxchange.com, 111853, DIRECT
             → ad_system: spotxchange.com
line 33     spotxchange.com, 71451, RESELLER
             → ad_system: spotxchange.com
line 74     spotxchange.com, 191478, RESELLER, 7842df1d2fe2db34
             → ad_system: spotxchange.com
line 77     spotxchange.com, 239904, RESELLER, 7842df1d2fe2db34
             → ad_system: spotxchange.com

info

DIRECT accounts registered to another domain

3 −1 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 (3)

line 147    google.com, pub-5823310977760966, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → domain in sellers.json: vizio.com  name in sellers.json: Vizio Services, LLC
line 157    videobyte.com, bb78B9M, DIRECT, ed26dcbc74bbdfd0
             → domain in sellers.json: nbcuniversal.com/  name in sellers.json: NBC Universal
line 162    wurl.com, 900001, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: peacocktv.com  name in sellers.json: NBCUniversal

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: indexexchange.com  seller_id: 185067  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: freewheel.tv  seller_id: 512029  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 (25 of 40)

line 4      freewheel.tv, 453233, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 5      freewheel.tv, 466305, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 6      freewheel.tv, 169843, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 11     freewheel.tv, 453217, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 12     freewheel.tv, 466289, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 13     freewheel.tv, 169843-523319, Reseller
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 14     freewheel.tv, 512116-523319, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 15     freewheel.tv, 505334, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 16     freewheel.tv, 169843-524565, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 34     advertising.com, 8603, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 36     appnexus.com, 3364, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 39     openx.com, 539154393, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 42     freewheel.tv, 799841, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 43     freewheel.tv, 799921, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 44     aol.com, 53392, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 404
line 45     rhythmone.com, 1166984029, RESELLER, a670c89d4a324e47
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 48     advertising.com, 28458, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 62     advertising.com, 151, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 64     freewheel.tv, 512029, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 65     appnexus.com, 17499, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 81     freewheel.tv, 381963, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 84     freewheel.tv, 384777, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 85     freewheel.tv, 538726, RESELLER #Amp
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 86     freewheel.tv, 524565, RESELLER #CAMSi
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 87     freewheel.tv, 5343065, RESELLER #Kepler
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403

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