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BLOX Digital

BLOX Digital (formerly TownNews.com) is a digital media and online publishing company based in East Moline, Illinois. The company's products include the BLOX NXT Content Management System, which is commonly used by American newspaper websites. In February 2023, TownNews rebranded as BLOX Digital.[1] As of 2025, Lee Enterprises has a "82.5% interest in INN Partners, L.C. ('BLOX Digital' formerly 'TownNews')",[2] and labels it as its "Software as a Service ('SaaS') division".[3]

History

The company was founded by Marc Wilson, Virginia R. Wilson, and Robert P. Dalton as the International Newspaper Network (INN) in 1989 to help newspapers deal with developing technology.[4] As of 2025, over 2,000 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV stations use BLOX Digital's products.[5]

Products

The company's lead product is the BLOX NXT content management system (CMS), launched in April 2025.[6] As the company’s flagship platform, it replaces the original BLOX Content Management System and is designed to meet the needs of media organizations, newspaper publishers, broadcasters of television and radio, and other content-driven businesses. BLOX NXT integrates tools for content creation, audience engagement, data analytics, and digital advertising into a unified system.

The BLOX NXT platform features AI-powered content creation assistance, providing real-time feedback on SEO, headline optimization, and content scoring, as well as audience engagement tools to enhance user targeting and retention.[7]

Acquisitions

Over the years, BLOX Digital has acquired various organizations, most notably Field59,[8] ZWire,[9] AdQuest,[9][10] Anytime News,[11] and DotConnect Media (formerly AdOne and PowerOne Media).[12][13]

See also

  • Cxense

External links

References

  1. Brad Ward. A message to our customers regarding our rebrand to BLOX Digital BLOX Digital, 27 January 2023, retrieved 8 May 2023^
  2. Timothy R. Millage. FORM 10-Q: QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 SEC.gov, UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, February 7, 2025, retrieved 2025-09-26^
  3. Available from: Lee Enterprises, Inc. (HTML, PDF), Dow Jones Institutional News, NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel , News Bites US - NASDAQ. BLOX Digital, Lee Enterprises. TownNews, top digital content management system (CMS) provider for media organizations, rebrands as BLOX Digital: Change reflects rapid growth of the leading provider of digital solutions for media organizations and expansion into attractive new markets February 6, 2023^
  4. About Us TownNews.com, retrieved 7 August 2017^
  5. BLOX Digital. About BLOX Digital BLOX Digital, retrieved 2025-07-28^
  6. BLOX NXT Unveiled: The future of content management is here BLOX Digital, 2025-04-03, retrieved 2025-07-28^
  7. Transform your content strategy with BLOX NXT’s integrated AI BLOX Digital, 2025-07-23, retrieved 2025-07-28^
  8. TownNews strengthens video offerings with Field59 acquisition BLOX Digital, 2018-03-27, retrieved 2025-07-28^
  9. Available from: Lee Enterprises, Inc. (HTML, PDF), The Quad-City Times (Feb 16, 2006). PowerOne Media, TownNews.com, Lee Enterprises. TownNews.com Acquires ZWire and AdQuest February 15, 2006^
  10. TownNews acquires additional businesses Globe Gazette, 16 February 2006^
  11. TownNews.com Adds Anytime News to Network Editor & Publisher, 2 March 2001^
  12. The McClatchy Company. Real Cities Network and DotConnect Media Announce Partnership; Expanded Network of More Than 1,400 Local Newspaper Websites Will Reach 43 Million Unique Visitors Monthly 25 July 2007^
  13. DotConnect Media. New National Advertising Network Will Link 1,550 Newspaper Websites from Coast to Coast 1 May 2006^