What is a repeat?
I'm guessing the broadcasters will say that +1 channels are not repeats, nor are the many repeats of a new episode of something within the first couple of weeks?
I remember when Torchwood started on BBC3, they showed the first episode *11* times within two weeks! I bet the BBC claim all 11 of these were first showings.
So without saying what Ofcom class as a repeat, this article isn't particularly helpful. I don't think anyone doesn't already know that most Freeview channels show repeats, be in BBC3 showing Two Pints in an endless loop, ITV3 showing old comedies and dramas from the 70s-90s, ITV4 showing old films and 60s cult shows, or the smaller channels like Dave and Virgin1 showing endless Top Gear and Star Trek.
It may also have been more useful to compare the five analogue channels now with how they were ten years ago. Ultimately, you can't expect to have 80 digital terrestrial channels full of new shows. Surely it's inevitable that one day 75% of everything broadcast will be repeats, or a huge number of channels will have to close because they can't afford to go on.
Mind you, that would free up wasted bandwidth to allow more HDTV channels. They can also get rid of the +1 channels. I think it's stupid that +1 channels have arrived at the exact same time as Sky+ and PVRs, not to mention numerous repeats on sister channels.
The last time I saw Deal or No Deal (about 2006, and it wasn't my falt that I saw it, honestly!) it first aired at 4:15pm on Ch4, then was on Ch4+1 at 5:15, then More4 at 18:10, then More4+1 at 19:10, then E4 at about 8pm, then E4+1 at 9pm, then on one of the Freeview channels again at 1-2am, then on the +1 at 2-3am, then Channel4 at 9am the next morning and 10am on Ch4+1, before going out again around noon on E4/More4 and finally at 1pm on the +1.
Then a couple of hours later another episode would premier on Channel 4 at 4:15pm and the vicious cycle would start all over again! Seriously, we're worried about green light bulbs, loft insulation, car emissions and the economy, but what about all the money and energy wasted keeping hundreds of TV and radio channels going to show tripe like this?