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The BBC Trust has formally approved proposals to close down BBC Three as a broadcast channel and move it online in March 2016.
The Trust provisionally approved the proposals in June, and its decision has now been finalised.
Chair of the Trust's Services Committee BBC Trustee Suzanna Taverne said: "The decision to close a TV channel is a difficult one, and one we have not taken lightly.
"The BBC must adapt with its audiences; the evidence is very clear that younger audiences are watching more online and less linear TV."
She continued: "The plans enable the BBC to deliver more distinctive content online, while bearing down on costs; to address concerns about the impact of moving BBC Three online, we have set new requirements for programmes for younger audiences on BBC One and Two."
The BBC Trust said that independent evidence shows that younger audiences are watching more online and less linear TV, showing public value in the move, which will also contribute to savings being made by the BBC.
There will be a phased migration online from January 2016 until the end of February 2016.
The trust has imposed several conditions relating to the move, strengthening some first outlined in June's provisional decision. These include:
- All BBC Three long-form content will be transmitted on slots on BBC One and BBC Two on an on-going basis as soon as BBC Three closes on TV
- BBC Three long-form content will be made available on both BBC One and BBC Two at a variety of times across the schedule and throughout the UK
- A commitment to providing risk-taking space being incorporated in the service licences of BBC One and BBC Two
- A commitment to programmes targeted at younger audiences will be incorporated in the service licences of BBC One and BBC Two
- The online channel should have the same accessibility standards as linear television wherever practicable
BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh has promised that the move online will be "great".
"Today is just the beginning for BBC Three and our plans to transform our offer for young people," he said.
Director-general Tony Hall first announced in March 2014 that BBC Three would close as a broadcast channel, promising that it will be reinvented "as a channel online and on the iPlayer".
The BBC said at the time that the move would save over £50 million, £30 million of which will be invested into BBC One drama.
Further proposals for BBC Three online announced in December 2014 promised a "daily stream" of programming and a move away from genre-led commissioning - with content ordered under the two key editorial principles 'Make Me Think' and 'Make Me Laugh'.
Under the proposals submitted to the Trust, 80% of BBC Three online's budget was earmarked for long form shows like Murdered by My Boyfriend and Bad Education, while the other 20% would be devoted to new form digital content.
Rick Edwards and Jack Whitehall have previously told Digital Spy that they think the plans are a bad idea, but James Corden - who starred in BBC Three's Gavin & Stacey - has voiced his support of the move.
Over 750 stars including Bad Education star Whitehall, Daniel Radcliffe, Olivia Colman, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan pledged their support to BBC Three in an open letter, urging the BBC Trust to reject the proposals.
A poll of over 30,000 Digital Spy readers found that an overwhelming majority of 87% opposed the axe.
As in its provisional June report, the BBC Trust has also approved plans to extend CBBC's broadcast hours to 9pm, and develop iPlayer to show more online-first and third party content.
It also formally rejected BBC plans for a BBC One +1 because of its limited public value.
