The BBC must wait until September at the earliest to hear if its proposed digital "youth" channel BBC Three can be launched, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said.

Hopes that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell would announce a decision at this year's International TV Festival in Edinburgh at the end of August were dashed when the minister confirmed that she would not be attending.

The final decision on the channel rests with Ms Jowell

A BBC spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "We'd like a decision sooner rather than later, but we're waiting patiently for Tessa Jowell to make her decision.

"The decision has always sat with the government, and there has never been a timetable."

BBC Three, aimed at young adults, would replace the BBC's current youth digital channel, BBC Choice.

Plans for the new channel were rejected in September last year because Ms Jowell felt they were not "distinctive" enough.

Boost

But some industry observers believe that, in spite of the delay, prospects for the eventual approval of BBC Three have improved recently.

The government is keen to boost digital terrestrial TV after the collapse of ITV digital.

And an Independent Television Commission (ITC) report in June played down the likely effects of BBC Three on its commercial competitors.

BBC Three is promising dramas like The Cops

Some commercial broadcasters, including BSkyB and Channel 4, have objected to the BBC's plans, saying the target audience is already well-served by existing channels.

Ms Jowell has said concerns over the impact on the commercial sector have contributed to delays in making a decision on BBC Three.

But the ITC's report said the impact of the new channel "could be manageable" and that BBC Thee would win a 2% share of the audience.

The BBC first published its proposals for nine new TV and Radio public services in Autumn 2000.

Following consultations with the BBC and public, Ms Jowell gave the go-ahead for eight of the services in September 2001.

The BBC submitted revised proposals for BBC Three in December 2001.