Speaking at the Westminster Media Forum conference today, Jowell outlined three criteria that BBC3 has to fulfil.
These are that the BBC must ensure BBC3 is a public service offering; that it must not have a disproportionate impact on commercial channels; and that it must help the UK's digital offering.
Jowell raised the concern, much aired by the BBC's commercial rivals, that the new channel will take too much of the 16- to 34-year-old market and hurt commercial rivals such as Sky One and E4, which have to rely on advertising revenues and subscription fees to survive.
Jowell said: "I am concerned about saying yes to a bid that is too competitive, especially as many commercial companies are currently feeling the squeeze from the biggest fall in advertising revenues in a decade. I want any new BBC service to complement, not undermine, the market."
The minister explained that, following a consultation with commercial broadcasters and the ITC, she felt that enough evidence had been presented that proved that BBC3 would win a bigger audience share than indicated in the broadcaster's bid.
Jowell added: "Now is not the time to impose a new, publicly funded service on a fragile and highly competitive market without being certain of the likely result. That is why I have asked the BBC and the ITC to clarify and, if possible, reconcile their different views of the competitive impact."
She went on to say that she thinks the BBC -- with BBC News 24, BBC4, BBC Choice and the two children's channels -- is an important part of the free-to-air digital offering that will encourage many households to sign up for digital channels.
She said: "The question now is whether I should give them permission to convert Choice to become BBC3."
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