The two-hour eighth-season premiere of the SCI FI Channel original series Stargate SG-1 broke records with a 2.4 rating in its July 9 initial airing, the network announced. The two-part episode "New Order" captured 3.22 million viewers, making it the most-watched original episode of Stargate SG-1 in the series’ history.

The episode also broke all of SCI FI’s previous viewership records for original series:

•It was the first episode of a SCI FI original series to deliver more than 3 million viewers.

•It was the first episode of a SCI FI original series to deliver more than 2 million viewers aged 25-54.

•It was the highest-rated and most-watched episode of Stargate SG-1 on SCI FI.

•It was the highest-rated and most-watched program on SCI FI in 2004.

•It was the most-watched Stargate SG-1 episode in its entire eight-year cable run.

•It was the most-watched episode of an original series in SCI FI history.

The Stargate SG-1 season premiere led SCI FI Channel to the top slot for the night among viewers 25-54 and second place among 18- to 49-year-olds.