Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver. The service also makes use of the additional capacity available on digital satellite broadcasting to offer a selection of high-definition programming from the BBC, ITV plc, Channel 4 and NHK.

Freesat's main competitors are Freeview and Freesat from Sky.

The BBC and ITV, the two biggest free-to-air broadcasters in the UK, make their services available digitally through three routes: free-to-air via digital terrestrial and digital satellite, and subscription-only via digital cable.

On digital terrestrial, the channels have always been available free-to-air with the appropriate equipment. In 2007 Freeview was available to only 73% of the population. After analogue TV services are replaced in the planned digital switchover, this will increase to 98.5% for the public service channels and 90% for the full 'Freeview' service. In order to provide more widespread coverage and a larger number of channels, a digital satellite alternative was felt necessary.

Rick Edwards (born 20 May 1979)^{[citation needed]} is a British TV presenter who mainly works on Channel 4 and E4. Rick has presented T4 with co-hosts Georgie Okell, Miquita Oliver, Jameela Jamil and Alexa Chung from which he left on 3 July 2011. He also presents Freshly Squeezed, E4 Music and Relentless.

Edwards attended the University of Cambridge, studying mathematics originally before changing to natural sciences after his first year. He also performed stand-up and sketch shows during his time at university. After graduating, he dabbled in modelling, something which he hated, feeling that after studying for years he should have been taken seriously, for more than his looks.

Rick hosted a Saturday evening radio show on XFM, entitled 'The Weekender.' His last show was on 10 January 2009.

He was part of the BBC presenting team for the 2007 Reading and Leeds Festival.

Rick is currently co-presenting a show on Channel 4 about Paralympic sports on the run up to the 2012 Olympics called, That Paralympic Show.