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.[2]
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online publishing |
| Predecessor | International Newspaper Network |
| Founded | 1989 in Bigfork, Montana, U.S. |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | |
| Products | BLOX NXT Content Management System |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
History
editThe 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.[1] As of 2025,[update] over 2,000 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV stations use BLOX Digital's products.[3]
Products
editThe company's lead product is the BLOX NXT content management system (CMS), launched in April 2025.[4] 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, television and radio broadcasters, 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.[5]
Acquisitions
editOver the years, BLOX Digital has acquired various organizations, most notably Field59,[6] ZWire,[7] AdQuest,[7][8] Anytime News,[9] and DotConnect Media.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "About Us". TownNews.com. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ "A message to our customers regarding our rebrand to BLOX Digital". BLOX Digital. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ Digital, BLOX. "About BLOX Digital". BLOX Digital. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ "BLOX NXT Unveiled: The future of content management is here". BLOX Digital. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ "Transform your content strategy with BLOX NXT's integrated AI". BLOX Digital. 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ "TownNews strengthens video offerings with Field59 acquisition". BLOX Digital. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ a b Times, Quad-City (2006-02-16). "Lee EnterprisesTownNews.com acquires ZWire and AdQuest". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ "TownNews acquires additional businesses". Globe Gazette. Mason City, IA. Associated Press. 16 February 2006.
- ^ "TownNews.com Adds Anytime News to Network". Editor & Publisher. 2 March 2001.