TLC to continue airing 'Jon & Kate'

NEW YORK, May 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. cable network TLC says it will continue airing "Jon & Kate Plus 8" for as long as people want to watch it and the family wants to star in it.

About 9.8 million viewers tuned in Monday for the Season 5 premiere of the reality show about Jon and Kate Gosselin, a Pennsylvania couple who are the parents of twins and sextuplets.

The season opener featured the couple confessing separately they are going through a rough patch in their marriage, partially due to the intense media attention they have been receiving.

The season premiere was the most watched program in TLC history, E! News said.

"The show's ratings have grown consistently, as there has been interest in these real-life issues of this real-life family," TLC said in a statement. "We will continue to air as the interest continues, and the family wants to do it."

E! News said TLC also confirmed this season would include 40 episodes, up from 20 last season.