How do I implement a blocklist across multiple accounts?

Sovrn Ad Exchange does not currently offer a way to sync a blocklist across separate Sovrn accounts automatically. To apply the same blocklist to multiple accounts, you should replicate the blocks in each account using the Ad Quality tab — and the fastest way to do that is with a reusable CSV file.

If your sites all live under a single Sovrn account, you don't need to repeat this work per account — use Group Blocks instead (covered later in this article).

Replicating URL, Creative ID, and Brand blocks across accounts with one CSV

For URL, Creative ID, or Brand blocks, the Ad Quality tool supports bulk upload via CSV. Build the file once, then upload the same file into each Sovrn account:

1. Log in to the first Sovrn account and navigate to the Ad Quality tab, then click + Block.

2. Choose whether to apply the block at the Account, Group, or Site level (use Account to cover everything in that account).

3. Select the relevant block type tab (URL, Creative ID, or Brand).

4. Download the provided .csv template and fill in the required details. This file is your master blocklist — keep it somewhere shared so it stays consistent across accounts.

5. Upload the file by clicking Browse, selecting the file, and clicking Upload blocks.

6. Review and confirm the blocks by clicking Save blocks.

7. Log in to each additional Sovrn account and repeat steps 1–6 with the same file.

When the blocklist changes, update the master CSV and re-upload it in every account so they stay in sync.

Replicating category, specialty, and attribute blocks across accounts

IAB category blocks, specialty blocks, and attribute blocks cannot be uploaded via CSV — you should apply the same selections manually in each account:

1. Log in to the Sovrn account and go to the Ad Quality tab.

2. Click + Block, then under Account, click Get started.

3. Select the same categories, specialty blocks, and attributes under the available tabs.

4. Click Review and save, then confirm by clicking Save blocks.

5. Repeat in each additional account.

Sovrn recommends keeping a written record of exactly which categories and attributes your standard blocklist includes, so each account is configured identically.

Applying one blocklist across multiple sites in a single account (Group Blocks)

If the properties you want to cover are multiple sites under one Sovrn account, use Group Blocks rather than account-by-account replication:

1. In the Ad Quality tab, click + Block.

2. Under Group, either select an existing group or click Create a new group.

3. Name the group (e.g., "Tech Blogs" or "News Sites").

4. Click Get started, then select the relevant sites in Group details. (Or bulk upload a list of approved sites.)

5. Next, choose the ad blocks to apply.

6. Click Review and save, then Save blocks.

Once saved, the group appears in the Ad Quality table, where you can edit or delete it at any time.

Blocklists for accounts with CTV or In-App inventory

The Ad Quality tool works with CTV (Connected TV) and In-App integrations, but only at the account level. Bundle-level blocking — such as applying a category block or advertiser domain (adomain) block to a specific app bundle — is not currently supported. For CTV or In-App inventory, any blocks in your blocklist will need to be applied at the account level, or implemented as bid-level blocks such as bcat (blocked categories) or badv (blocked advertiser domains).

Keep revenue impact in mind when standardizing blocklists

Applying one broad blocklist to every account multiplies its revenue impact. Excessive or overly broad blocks reduce the variety of advertisers bidding on your inventory across all of your accounts at once. Sovrn recommends blocking only truly undesirable ads, and monitoring revenue trends in each account after rolling out a shared blocklist.

Questions? Concerns? Our team would be more than happy to help. Reach out to our Support Team here.