iOS · SmartNews, Inc.

SmartNews: Breaking News

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

91/100

2,048 lines · 1,739 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 −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 (11)

line 1233   seedtag.com, 6a8495f8f228bc0007dad9eb, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 4 different companies  name in sellers.json: Luna Media Group LLC  domain in sellers.json: lunamedia.io
line 1234   vidazoo.com, 6a04bf983b6b70e1f48a52c2, DIRECT, b6ada874b4d7d0b2
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 34 different companies  name in sellers.json: Luna media  domain in sellers.json: lunamedia.io
line 1238   conversantmedia.com, 100322, DIRECT, 03113cd04947736d
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 68 different companies  name in sellers.json: Luna Media Group LLC  domain in sellers.json: lunamedia.io
line 1263   themediagrid.com, FALINO, DIRECT, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 105 different companies  name in sellers.json: Luna Media Group LLC  domain in sellers.json: lunamedia.io
line 1273   rubiconproject.com, 22314, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: Google  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 1281   media.net, 8CUL142D1, DIRECT
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: SmartNews (via OB)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 1480   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 1582   smaato.com, 1100046349, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b17
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: EB AdMob - SmartNews (pub-7422164609422691)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 1583   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
line 1584   smaato.com, 1100049678, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY  name in sellers.json: EB DFP - SmartNews (pub-2647321473134964)  domain in sellers.json: google.com
line 1790   smartadserver.com, 4071, DIRECT
             → observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 59 different companies

warning

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

40 −2 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 (25 of 40)

line 23     triplelift.com,6979,DIRECT,6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 30     yieldmo.com,2970513419909668923,DIRECT
             → sellers_json: https://yieldmo.com/sellers.json
line 39     connectad.io,455,RESELLER,85ac85a30c93b3e5
             → sellers_json: https://connectad.io/sellers.json
line 41     sonobi.com,24f603762e,RESELLER,d1a215d9eb5aee9e
             → sellers_json: https://sonobi.com/sellers.json
line 45     improvedigital.com,2050,RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://improvedigital.com/sellers.json
line 69     yieldmo.com,2970513419909668923,DIRECT
             → sellers_json: https://yieldmo.com/sellers.json
line 79     improvedigital.com,2050,RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://improvedigital.com/sellers.json
line 82     risecodes.com,63832beef8189a00015cb6d3,RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://risecodes.com/sellers.json
line 89     smaato.com,tobeaddedaftermapping,DIRECT,07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 94     triplelift.com,6979,DIRECT,6c33edb13117fd86
             → sellers_json: https://triplelift.com/sellers.json
line 561    themediagrid.com, L2139J, Reseller, 35d5010d7789b49d
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 673    adform.com, 3305, RESELLER, 9f5210a2f0999e32
             → sellers_json: https://adform.com/sellers.json
line 684    Media.net, 8CUCN7U08, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://media.net/sellers.json
line 711    themediagrid.com,uot45z,RESELLER,35d5010d7789b49d
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 716    video.unrulymedia.com, 311396600, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://video.unrulymedia.com/sellers.json
line 1063   xandr.com,10128,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: https://xandr.com/sellers.json
line 1149   markappmedia.site, 313916, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://markappmedia.site/sellers.json
line 1152   media.net, 8CUC0721K, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://media.net/sellers.json
line 1206   spinx.biz, 1373698867, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://spinx.biz/sellers.json
line 1277   themediagrid.com, DSJVTX, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
             → sellers_json: https://themediagrid.com/sellers.json
line 1412   adelement.com, 48268, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://adelement.com/sellers.json
line 1511   pangleglobal.com, 5008965, DIRECT
             → sellers_json: https://pangleglobal.com/sellers.json
line 1585   smaato.com, 1100049832, DIRECT, 07bcf65f187117b4
             → sellers_json: https://smaato.com/sellers.json
line 1667   houseofpubs.com, 170140, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: https://houseofpubs.com/sellers.json
line 1728   rubiconproject.com, 28341, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → sellers_json: https://rubiconproject.com/sellers.json

warning

Lines for ad system domains that don't resolve

1 −1 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 (1)

line 68     districtm.io,100962,RESELLER,3fd707be9c4527c3
             → ad_system: districtm.io

info

Duplicate lines

189 −2 pts

Harmless but a sign of copy-paste maintenance.

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

Evidence (25 of 189)

ad_system: appnexus.com  seller_id: 12604  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: indexexchange.com  seller_id: 195978  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: pubmatic.com  seller_id: 161091  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: mobilefuse.com  seller_id: 3927  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: smaato.com  seller_id: 1100050022  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: triplelift.com  seller_id: 6979  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: video.unrulymedia.com  seller_id: 2320582744  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: rubiconproject.com  seller_id: 22312  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: vrtcal.com  seller_id: 240  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: smartadserver.com  seller_id: 4323  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: sharethrough.com  seller_id: gq7gia53  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: nativo.com  seller_id: 5751  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: yieldmo.com  seller_id: 2970513419909668923  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: openx.com  seller_id: 545684303  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: fyber.com  seller_id: 234164  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: minutemedia.com  seller_id: 01gya4708ddm  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: emxdgt.com  seller_id: 2009  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: richaudience.com  seller_id: mmuggvzcvd  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: mintegral.com  seller_id: 10043  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: start.io  seller_id: 123111883  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: improvedigital.com  seller_id: 2050  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: beachfront.com  seller_id: 14804  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: thebrave.io  seller_id: 1234794  relationship: RESELLER
ad_system: indexexchange.com  seller_id: 214511  relationship: DIRECT
ad_system: pubmatic.com  seller_id: 167383  relationship: DIRECT

info

DIRECT accounts registered to another domain

2 −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 (2)

line 549    richaudience.com, lj578zQ2QS, DIRECT
             → domain in sellers.json: playbuzz.com  name in sellers.json: Playbuzz Ltd.
line 1274   rubiconproject.com, 18020, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
             → domain in sellers.json: amazon.com  name in sellers.json: A9.com

info

Ad systems without a public sellers.json

229

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 229)

line 5      advisermedia.co, 70595, RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTML or login page instead of JSON
line 18     appnexus.com,12604,DIRECT,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 31     openx.com,545684303,DIRECT,6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 54     openx.com,564214979,DIRECT,6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 60     openx.com,545684303,DIRECT,6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 61     appnexus.com,1908,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 64     sovrn.com,375328,RESELLER,fafdf38b16bf6b2b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 70     appnexus.com,3663,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 76     appnexus.com,1356,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 97     appnexus.com,12604,DIRECT,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 99     appnexus.com, 12604, DIRECT, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 100    appnexus.com, 14473, DIRECT, f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 126    apester.com,2701,RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 127    appnexus.com,12964,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 128    appnexus.com,13099,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 129    appnexus.com,14538,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 130    appnexus.com,15774,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 131    appnexus.com,8830,RESELLER,f5ab79cb980f11d1
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 162    eskimi.com,2020000205,RESELLER
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 164    freewheel.tv,535400-r-523319,RESELLER,74e8e47458f74754
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 200    loopme.com,11362,RESELLER,6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 201    loopme.com,11463,RESELLER,6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 202    loopme.com,11605,RESELLER,6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 203    loopme.com,5176,RESELLER,6c8d5f95897a5a3b
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403
line 234    openx.com,537140488,RESELLER,6a698e2ec38604c6
             → sellers_json: HTTP 403

info

DIRECT accounts marked confidential

Buyers can't see who owns these accounts.

How to fixAsk the ad system to publish your seller entry with name and domain.

Evidence (1)

line 495    ssp.cadent.com, 2315, DIRECT, 1e1d41537f7cad7f

Is this your app?

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