Quick answer: This advertising disclosure explains how TheDigitalWise.com labels advertising, sponsored content, partnerships and affiliate links, and how our independent entertainment and streaming reviews stay separate from all of it. When money is involved, we tell you — clearly, on the page, in line with the FTC endorsement guides.
Key takeaways
- Everything paid is labelled: advertising, sponsored content, partnerships and affiliate links.
- Reviews stay independent: our editorial coverage is never for sale.
- Standard we follow: the FTC endorsement guides.
- No hidden links: we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
- Questions: reach us via the contact page or at [email protected].
Why this disclosure exists
Fans should always know whether what they are reading is independent editorial or a commercial placement. This page sets out, in plain terms, the ways TheDigitalWise.com earns money and how each is labelled, so you can trust that the line between the two is never blurred. Transparency is not a legal box-tick for us; it is how a publication about what to watch keeps its recommendations worth reading.
This disclosure applies across the whole site, not just to a handful of pages. Wherever money changes hands — a banner, a sponsored article, a partnership or an affiliate link — the same labelling standard applies, so you can move through TheDigitalWise.com confident that anything commercial is identified as such.
It also applies to how our content is produced. Our articles are written and edited by people, not churned out to fill space, and any commercial involvement in a piece is disclosed within it. That way the label tells you not just that money was involved, but exactly where — so you are never left guessing which parts of a page reflect a paid interest.
Advertising
We run display and sponsorship placements from brands wanting to reach our audience. These are shown as advertising and sit apart from our articles. Details are on our advertise page. An advertiser pays for visibility to our readers and for nothing beyond that — the placement is the product, not our opinion.
Sponsored content
A sponsored article is paid for by a brand and clearly marked as sponsored. It reflects the brand’s message, not an independent verdict from us, and the label makes that explicit. If you are reading a sponsored piece, you will know it, because we say so plainly at the top.
A sponsored article can still be genuinely useful — many are — but usefulness is not the same as independence. The label exists so you can weigh what you read accordingly, treating it as the brand’s own account rather than our impartial assessment of it.
Brand partnerships
Longer partnerships may combine advertising and sponsored content. Every paid element within a partnership is disclosed in the same way as a standalone placement, so the length or scale of a relationship never means less transparency. A brand that works with us for a year is labelled with exactly the same clarity as one buying a single placement, and the fact that a piece sits within a larger partnership is never a reason to soften or hide its commercial nature.
Affiliate links
Some articles contain affiliate links — for instance to a streaming service or product — and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We include them only where relevant, and they never influence our editorial verdict. If something is not worth your money, an affiliate link will not change what we say about it. See our affiliate disclosure for the full explanation.
How we label commercial content
Paid placements carry a visible “advertising” or “sponsored” label, and affiliate links are disclosed near where they appear. We apply the FTC endorsement guides so the labelling is clear rather than buried. If you are ever unsure, the label is there to tell you, and it is placed where you will actually see it rather than hidden in the small print.
What we never do
We do not sell reviews, ratings or editorial verdicts; those are independent and never for sale. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links. And a screener, review copy or press invitation never guarantees coverage or a particular score. These rules are fixed, not negotiable, and they apply to every brand regardless of budget.
We hold to them precisely because they are the things advertisers occasionally ask for. Saying no to a paid verdict or a hidden link is not always the easy commercial choice in the moment, but it is the only choice that keeps this disclosure honest and our coverage worth trusting over the long run.
Keeping reviews independent
Our writers decide what to cover and what to conclude, free of commercial pressure. Advertisers, sponsors and partners cannot approve, veto or edit independent editorial. That separation is the whole point of this disclosure — it is what lets you rely on our recommendations when you are deciding what to watch, play or attend next.
In practice this means a reviewer can praise or pan anything, including something a current advertiser is promoting, without a commercial conversation ever entering the room. The people selling placements and the people forming opinions work to different ends on purpose. That separation is not a courtesy we extend to readers; it is the condition on which the whole publication earns the right to be read.
If you have a concern
If you ever feel something on TheDigitalWise.com is not labelled clearly enough, we want to know. Tell us via the contact page or at [email protected] and we will review it. Getting disclosure right is an ongoing responsibility, and reader feedback is part of how we keep it right.
Standards around advertising and endorsements evolve, and so does the way brands want to work with publishers. We revisit this policy as those things change, so that what you read here reflects how the site actually operates rather than a statement written once and forgotten. If something on the page seems out of step with what you see in practice, that is exactly the kind of thing we want flagged.
TheDigitalWise.com is an independent entertainment and streaming publication with a named editorial team and published standards. For more, see our about page, team page, editorial guidelines and affiliate disclosure, and read how we handle revenue on our how we make money page. We apply the FTC endorsement guides, and our coverage and reviews are never for sale.
Frequently asked questions
What does this advertising disclosure cover?
How TheDigitalWise.com labels advertising, sponsored content, partnerships and affiliate links, and how independent reviews stay separate.
How do I know if something is paid?
Paid placements are labelled “advertising” or “sponsored”, and affiliate links are disclosed near where they appear, per the FTC endorsement guides.
Are your reviews for sale?
No. Reviews, ratings and editorial coverage are independent and never for sale.
Do you use affiliate links?
Yes, where relevant. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; it never changes our verdict. See our affiliate disclosure.
Do you sell paid links?
We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
Can advertisers change an article?
Advertisers control their own placements only. They cannot approve or edit our independent editorial.
Does receiving a screener oblige coverage?
No. A screener or review copy never guarantees coverage or a particular rating.
Who do I contact with questions?
Reach us via the contact page or at [email protected].
Questions about this page?
Email us at [email protected] and a member of the editorial team will get back to you, typically within one business day.