NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo announced an agreement with the estate of the late musical star Jenni Rivera to produce an official bio-musical series about her life and other specials. The exclusive agreement with Jenni Rivera Enterprises envisions "multiple tribute concerts" starting in 2017 and a series of “Jenni Vive” annual specials associated with Jenni's Love Foundation. As Telemundo notes, the network and the late Regional Mexican singer had a long-standing relationship, including appearances on multiple Billboard Latin Music Awards and the Billboard Regional Mexican Music Awards. Rivera also starred in and executive produced the celeb-reality series I Love Jenni, which aired for three seasons on sister-cable network mun2 now called NBC Universo. Telemundo is essentially reviving or extending that series, via a new show about her family called The Riveras.
Rivera, who died in a plane crash in 2012, founded Jenni Rivera Enterprises, which today is is closely managed by her children and Rosie Rivera Flores and Juan Rivera, Jenni's sister and brother, respectively. JRE owns and controls the iconic Mexican-American star's life story rights, Telemundo said, and manages the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation, a non-profit organization that was particularly important to Jenni for its support of abused and battered women.
In a release, JRE said: "We are excited to partner with Telemundo and the NBCUniversal family to bring to the world the only official television series based on Jenni's life. Jenni's extraordinary career, passion for life, and infinite love for her family are a story never before told on television. Telemundo and JRE are dedicated to together growing Jenni's powerful legacy through this series, the music tribute concerts and other historic projects."
And Telemundo Network president Luis Silbewasser said: "We are both proud and humbled that the Rivera family has chosen Telemundo to do the only authorized television series about her life. We look forward to working with Rosie, Juan and the entire family to preserve Jenni's legacy and bring to our audiences the story of one of the most inspiring and powerful icons of the Hispanic community."
