Ad Network
01 Definition
Ad Network meaning: A company that gathers ad space from many publishers and resells it to advertisers in bulk.
An ad network aggregates unsold or available ad inventory from many websites or apps and packages it for advertisers to buy. It groups placements by theme, audience, or format, then matches ads to slots. Networks differ from exchanges because they often bundle inventory rather than auction each impression individually.
Why it matters
How Ad Network fits the work
Ad networks let advertisers reach many sites through one buy and give publishers a way to sell space they cannot fill through direct deals.
In context
A small brand buys through an ad network and reaches 300 hobby sites with one insertion order instead of contacting each publisher.
Practical note
Bundled inventory can hide where ads actually run. Ask for placement reports and use exclusion lists to avoid low-quality or off-brand sites within the network.