VH1 TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ANGELA "BIG ANG" RAIOLA WITH A FULL SEASON MARATHON OF "MOB WIVES" SPINOFF SERIES "BIG ANG" WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 STARTING AT 9:00 PM ET/PT

TRIBUTE SPECIAL PLANNED FOR LATER IN MARCH

NEW YORK, NY (February 23, 2016) - Last week, VH1 lost one of the network's most vibrant and beloved stars with the passing of Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola following a battle with cancer. 'Big Ang' first appeared on the second season VH1's hit series 'Mob Wives,' and proved to be a true breakout star and fan favorite. She quickly landed her eponymous spinoff series 'Big Ang.' This week, VH1 will remember one of reality TV's most over-the-top and loveable characters by airing the full season of 'Big Ang' on Wednesday, February 24th starting at 9:00 PM ET/PT following the debut of an all-new episode of 'Mob Wives' at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

In addition, a tribute special celebrating Ang's biggest TV moments will premiere on VH1 later in March. Details will be announced at a later date.

Fan tributes from social media will be featured on-air throughout the 'Big Ang' marathon on Wednesday night. For more details and information about Big Ang, and to join the conversation, please visit www.bigang.vh1.com.

'Big Ang' gives viewers a glimpse into the fabulous life of Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola. Life's a nothing but a big party, and VH1 is along for the ride. For Big Ang, it's all about friends and family - every day is cause for celebration at her popular Staten Island bar The Drunken Monkey.

"I'm not here for a long time, I'm here for a good time!" - Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola

VH1 is the dominant pop culture brand for adults 18-34, creating their pop culture today while celebrating the pop culture of their past. VH1 is available in 93 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, the VH1 App, VH1.com and @VH1, the hub for all things music and pop culture. Fans may also access current and retro VH1 programming via the VH1 App, the network's three-in-one video, new form content and co-viewing app, available for free on iOS and Android platforms. VH1 is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.