ESPN.com isn't exactly Spartacus, but the publisher says it plans to cast off the yolk of ad networks, despite widespread use of the business model by many of the internet's leading sites.

At a time when many publishers have come to see ad networks as their salvation, ESPN said it would cut ties with Specific Media and several other unnamed ad networks, according to a story in Media Week.

“We’re heading down a path where it no longer suits our business needs to work with ad networks,” said Eric Johnson, EVP of multimedia sales, ESPN customer marketing and sales.

Officials at Turner are also rumored to be considering a similar move in an attempt to turn the tide of an increasingly commoditized marketplace for inventory. 

Last week, Federated Media boss John Battelle slammed ad networks, saying that they had become a "flavor of the month."