Campaign Overview: Why We Watch Ad Block Consolidation

The Ad Block Consolidation Watch is an essential informational campaign run by Boycott Media. Its purpose is to track and publicly map how large national and international media conglomerates are quietly acquiring the local advertising networks that independent news outlets rely on. This campaign reveals the silent financial chokehold being placed on small, local news producers, often forcing them out of business or into editorial alignment with their new, larger financial partners.

The Problem: Financial Control over Local Content

While mergers between news publications are highly visible, the acquisition of ad networks, programmatic advertising platforms, and local ad sales teams goes largely unnoticed.

• This financial consolidation dictates which independent news sites receive vital ad revenue and which do not.
• Conglomerates can prioritize their own content or push specific narratives by controlling the ad dollars circulating in the local market.
• Independent local voices are effectively starved of the financial resources needed to maintain ethical, high-quality journalism.

Tracking and Research Focus

This campaign operates as a transparency project, utilizing publicly available business filings and community submissions to build a comprehensive tracker. Our research focuses on three key areas:

1. Network Mapping: Identifying all major programmatic and local ad sales networks operating in key metropolitan areas.
2. Acquisition Documentation: Documenting all mergers, acquisitions, and majority investments made by large media and tech firms into these local ad networks over the past five years.
3. Financial Impact Analysis: Publicly analyzing the resulting financial disparity between independent newsrooms and consolidated newsrooms after an acquisition takes place.

How You Can Contribute to the Watch

This campaign is driven by community intelligence. We rely on individuals with knowledge of local business changes, media finance, and corporate dealings to help us keep the map accurate.

1. Submit a Tip: If you know of a recent local ad network acquisition or a change in ad placement policy, use our secure submission form to send us a tip.
2. Analyze Data: We regularly release raw, anonymized data for public review. Volunteers with data analysis skills are encouraged to help us identify patterns.
3. Share the Tracker: Spread awareness of the map on social media. The more local citizens who understand who funds their news, the more pressure is placed on these consolidated networks.