iOS · The Associated Press

AP News

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

88/100

123 lines · 93 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

3 −6 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 (3)

line 131    pubmatic.com, 160966, DIRECT, 5d62403b186f2ace
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: The Associated Press, Inc (via EB)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 141    rubiconproject.com, 17742, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: Google  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 145    smaato.com, 1100004890, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 165 different companies  name in sellers.json: Smaato Managed  domain in sellers.json: smaato.com

warning

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

5 −4 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 (5)

line 8      themediagrid.com, DXW9CT, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 94     xandr.com, 1405, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://xandr.com/sellers.json
line 144    smaato.com, 1100034852, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 146    smaato.com, 1100044124, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 150    google.com, pub-9888648487304734, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → sellers_json: https://realtimebidding.google.com/sellers.json

info

DIRECT accounts registered to another domain

2 −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 (2)

line 17     google.com, pub-8475685469544477, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
             → domain in sellers.json: ap.org  name in sellers.json: Associated Press
line 98     nativo.com, 4340, DIRECT, 59521ca7cc5e9fee
             → domain in sellers.json: ap.org  name in sellers.json: AP

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 (21)

line 9      appnexus.com, 17535, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 12     openx.com, 558595797, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 13     freewheel.tv, 1585055, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 14     freewheel.tv, 1585058, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 36     openx.com, 539496816, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 38     gannett.com, 22597229605, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 59     appnexus.com, 16912, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 60     appnexus.com, 17444, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 66     freewheel.tv, 535072-r-523319, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 67     freewheel.tv, 535072-r-524565, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 68     freewheel.tv, sg1256478, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 71     loopme.com, 11186, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 100    appnexus.com, 8035, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 103    openx.com, 540709535, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 104    zetaglobal.net, 989, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 404
line 111    openx.com, 538914233, DIRECT, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 112    openx.com, 537151502, DIRECT, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 118    loopme.com, 11280, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 122    openx.com, 540258065, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 125    freewheel.tv, 19133, RESELLER, 74e8e47458f74754
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 127    appnexus.com, 16007, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403

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