Electus International Secures 'Mob Wives' Global Presence in Close to 100 Countries as Season Two Heads to Australia, Canada and Latin America

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Jan 23, 2012, 02:30 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ben Silverman's multimedia entertainment studio Electus, an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), today announced that its global distribution arm, Electus International, has secured distribution deals with major networks in close to 100 countries– including Australia (XYZnetworks for LifeStyle YOU) Canada (Shaw Media) and Latin America (MTV Latin America) among others – for the second season of "Mob Wives," the hit reality television series airing Sunday nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT on VH1.

The international distribution news comes on the heels of tremendous domestic and international success for the series. After averaging record numbers for VH1 in its first season, "Mob Wives" season two has already brought in 2.4 million total viewers for its premiere episode and is continuing to post strong ratings each week. The east-coast based series has also inspired a spin-off. "Mob Wives: Chicago," slated to air on VH1 in Spring 2012, will introduce a whole new cast of women set against the backdrop of Al Capone's legendary home.

"After an unforgettable first season, Electus is proud to once again team up with our international network partners in bringing the compelling, drama-filled second season of 'Mob Wives' to enthusiastic audiences around the world," said John Pollak, President of Electus International. "Echoing the domestic success of the series with season two and the upcoming Chicago spin-off in the works, Mob Wives is quickly becoming a franchise that VH1 and our international partners can really build around."

Last season, "Mob Wives" introduced viewers to the closed-door society of Renee, Karen, Carla and Drita - four "allegedly" associated women who carry on while their husbands or fathers do time for Mob-related activities. United by a bond which few understand, the women struggle with their identities and their futures as they raise their kids as single parents in the New York City area.

The second season picks up where the first left off, continuing its unfiltered look at the women's lives as each cast member deals with major personal issues. The rift between Karen and Drita is far from over; Renee goes under the knife for major plastic surgery that may have some unexpected consequences, while also contemplating her future with her ex-husband Junior; Drita is considering her options when it comes to leaving her husband Lee, while Carla's relationship with her estranged husband Joe may take an unexpected twist; and, of course, everyone wants to know what's in Karen's soon-to-be-released book, the one she moved back to New York to write. Two new well "connected" members are also introduced to the Mob Wives' cast -Ramona Rizzo and "Big Ang"- which end up bringing season two to a whole new level of drama.

Created and executive produced by Jennifer Graziano of JustJenn Productions, "Mob Wives" is executive produced by The Weinstein Company (Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein), Electus (Ben Silverman, Jimmy Fox), Left/Right (Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman and Nina L. Diaz) with Electus International and The Weinstein Company owning distribution rights across all platforms including television, motion picture, and digital. Executive producers for VH1 include Shelly Tatro, Kari McFarland, Rick Hankey and Jeff Olde.

About Electus

Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world. Headed by Ben Silverman in partnership with IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], the company connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be a true partner in campaigns and content creation. Electus International, the global distribution arm of Electus, is responsible for all international sales and distribution for Electus' programming and its studio partners as well as programs and formats from other well-known 3rd party providers. For more information on Electus, visit www.electus.com.

About The Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I'M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; and I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. Currently in release are APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; and SARAH'S KEY. Upcoming releases include MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, PIRANHA 3DD; THE ARTIST; W.E.; and THE IRON LADY.

TWC is also active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production and current President of Television Meryl Poster, with credits including the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series Project Runway, spin-off series Project Accessory and Project Runway All Stars, the VH1 reality series Mob Wives, and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which also received a Peabody Award. The company is currently in production on the second season of Mob Wives as well as the newest installment in the series' franchise Mob Wives Chicago. TWC additionally has 17 series in different stages of development, including The Nanny Diaries, being adapted for ABC by Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls)