It depends which channel buys them. Normally we are a month or two behind on the more popular shows. We then almost catch up, or even sometimes overtake (SG1 and Atlantis apparently are first in the UK after the mid season break this season for some reason, and BSG was way ahead in the UK in the beginning for some reason and way behind in the 2nd season) the US mainly because we very rarely have breaks in the schedule (perhaps a week at Xmas or easter). It was only recently that I found out about "mid-season finales". I always wondered why SG1 always had a good (as in expensive looking) episode about midway through. Hardly any gaps means no long mid-season gap, so no need for a cliff hanger either. I guess that is a good thing (no waiting around for months; I know what happened with the dragon etc...)
Some shows though are stupidely behind. Lost for instance was almost an entire season behind normally. Dunno why, but I guess it depends how long it takes for our side to be interested in it (more than one channel bids for rights), and then how long the negotiations take. I guess also that once one season has shown the same channel then makes sure there is a year from the start of each season. So tough. Sometimes we don't even get to see some programs (because they are cancelled and never sold over here) until years later (when someone like SciFi buys the rights because there is nothing else it can afford).
Personally I also saw the Wow episode a while back. Can't remember when now though.
Films used to be the worst though. Was normally a good 4-6 months before we got to see something (apart from rare exceptions like Star Wars - although that was filmed a lot here so fairs fair etc). Now because of piracy you don't get such a large gap. ie. they think you wouldn't download it if it was showing in your local cinema. What used to be really annoying though is when the rest of Europe used to get it like a week or two after the US and we would get it 3 months later. I mean they had to convert it to another language for god's sake!!! A friend of mine later told me that it was because most of the films ran in the US and then were sent to be watched in the UK. Saved on tape reel as there was no need to change anything. This also had the negative effect that the quality was lower because they had been watched X times. Dunno if thats true or used to be true, but wouldn't suprise me.
Cheers
I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
