This is the Guardian.

Today, the latest skirmish between the BBC and the government

is part of a long debate over who the BBC serves.

But this time, the stakes are higher.

The film can be claimedly roamed by socalled

The cinema newsreels had filmed previous donations, but for the first time ever, television

viewers in their homes would now be able to watch the crowning of their queen as it happened.

As you probably know, Blue Peter isn't a recorded programme, it's a live one.

For more than 100 years, the BBC has saturated British life.

It's soaps, children's programmes, comedies, concerts and news that's played witness to history and shaped it in the UK and around the world.

Few minutes ago, the BBC launched its round the clock television news channel.

One couple is about to be crowned champions of strictly-come-dancing.

All of this costs money, but the British public, the licence fee payers provide.

Soon, there's going to be less of that money to go around.

We had to think very carefully about imposing potential increase on the TV licence.

This week, the Culture Secretary, Nadine Doris, confirmed the government is freezing the BBC licence fee for the next two years

and suggested that in five years' time, they could cut it entirely.

Doris' plan is controversial, including among Tory MPs.

Some in the party and many in the public reckon 43p a day for the BBC's licence fee is pretty good value.

But this debate is about more than money.

The BBC isn't just a broadcasting network.

For lots of people, it's a stand-in for something much larger, the character of the UK itself.

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