TLC isn't ready to let go of the Duggar family.
After pulling "19 Kids and Counting" from its schedule following reports that Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's eldest son, Josh Duggar, molested five girls as a teenager, the network is considering going a completely different direction with the family-friendly reality show.
Sources told PEOPLE that the network is developing a spin-off that focuses on newlyweds Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard, and Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald. The show has received high ratings for episodes featuring the wedding of Jill and Jessa along with the birth of the couple's baby boy.
"The show had begun to focus more and more on the next generation of Duggars, anyway - mainly Jill and Jessa and their marriages and babies," a source told PEOPLE. "That's when the show got its highest ratings."
However, a source told the New York Daily News that the network has not made a "long-term decision regarding the Duggars or any spin-off" series. The network executives were considering firing Josh from "19 Kids" and focusing upcoming seasons on the family's other children, TMZ reported last week.
Unfortunately, the show has been losing advertisers, including Ace Hardware, David's Bridal and Pure Leaf Iced Tea. The companies followed in the steps of General Mills, Payless Shoesource, Choice Hotels International and Walgreens, who pulled their ads from the show after Josh's indiscretions were made public.
Josh released a statement regarding the child molestation accusations.
"Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret," Josh said in the statement to PEOPLE. "I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."
