AdExchanger Freestar's CEO On Why Ad Tech Transparency Is A Boon For Struggling Publishers
Feb 17, 2026
Kurt Donnell, CEO of Freestar — leader in publisher monetization networks — talks programmatic transparency, why clearer buy-sell practices help the open web, and how networks support smaller publishers. He covers the TID debate, auction transparency standards, AI search’s hit to referral traffic, and strategies publishers can use to retain audiences in an AI-driven future.
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Ad Networks Became Necessary Scale Partners
- Ad networks evolved from shady middlemen to essential scale partners that solve complex publisher needs.
- Kurt Donnell argues networks now provide technical resources and vetting that benefit both supply and demand.
Make Transparency A Two-Way Street
- Work together across buy and sell sides to improve transparency and root out bad actors.
- Demand reciprocity: sellers should share signals and buyers should help identify spammy or harmful ads.
TIDs Reveal Useful Bidding And Fraud
- Universal transaction IDs and auction transparency expose both legitimate multi-path bidding and fraudulent duplication.
- Cleaning up nefarious duplication could raise CPMs and improve market trust.