Raw’s run on German free television is coming to an end

– The German-based website Pro-Wrestling.De is reporting that private broadcaster Tele 5 will not be renewing WWE’s deal to continue airing Raw when the deal expires in the first quarter of 2017. Tele 5 is a free TV channel in Germany and a decrease in audience saw the broadcaster ditch the show from its future schedule. The announcement was made by a station spokesman to media magazine DWDL. Raw averages around 200,000-250,000 viewers every week in the country. The channel has held the Raw rights since April 2014. The German website also says that the contract for Smackdown on ProSieben MAXX will expire during the same time and there’s no new deal in place yet. The network recently acquired the broadcast rights of the UFC and the NFL.