Pro-Active Television has confirmed that it has been appointed as the official television production partner of the UAE Desert Challenge, the sixth and final round of the 2005 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup.

Established in 1991, the Dubai-based car, motorbike and truck event will take place across 2000kms of unforgiving UAE desert between 9 and 14 November and, among other big-name drivers, is set to feature the competitive Middle East debut of double World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz.

The deal was agreed with event founder and organizer Mohammed Ben Sulayem, himself a 14-times Middle East Rally Champion.  Specialist Pro-Active crews will be on-site to conduct aerial filming, the fitting of on-board cameras and the pooling of footage with Dubai Sports Channel and other attending broadcasters.  Utilising its own computer-based flyaway facilities, Pro-Active will then cut the resulting material into daily satellite news bulletins for international distribution via global TV news agencies and will work closely with Dubai TV to facilitate live local-territory coverage of the event start and finish.

Back at its UK base, Pro-Active will produce a stand-alone one hour highlights show for international broadcast partners, in addition to guaranteeing the event extensive global coverage via its own sports magazine shows, Raceworld, Moto+ and Sports Unlimited.

The appointment marks the latest chapter in Pro-Active’s long and distinguished record of production in the Middle East, which over the last thirteen years has included events such as the Dubai Rugby Sevens, PSA World Squash Tour (Kuwait,) World Waterski Pro-Tour (Qatar,) ATP and WTA Dubai Tennis Championships, Dubai World Cup horse race and a host of international sailing and powerboat events.