Celebrating Rabindra Narayan: The man who gave Punjabi television a global stage

He built an empire on the idea that Punjabi stories deserved a global audience, and then went and built another one. On his birthday, the media world pauses to celebrate Rabindra Narayan, Founder, Managing Director and President of Galactic Television & Communications (GTC Network), a man whose name has become synonymous with the rise of regional broadcasting in India.

Widely regarded as the "Father of Punjabi Television," Narayan's journey in broadcasting spans nearly two decades of building one of the most influential regional media ecosystems in the country. From 2007 onward, he steered PTC Network as its Managing Director and President, growing it into the world's largest producer of original Punjabi-language non-film, non-music content.

Under his leadership, the network expanded to seven television channels, a robust digital presence across dozens of Facebook pages, a film production arm, and an audio label, with operations stretching across India, Canada, the US, UK, and UAE.

Narayan's career has also been marked by a string of industry firsts. He led the launch of the world's first live 360-degree virtual reality telecast from a fixed location, the Golden Temple, and helmed the launch of the first 24x7 streaming TV channel on Facebook. His storytelling instincts extended to cinema as well, with a National Film Award to his credit as a producer.

In August last year, after stepping down from PTC Network, Narayan launched his new venture, GTC Network, incorporated in Amritsar and built around an ambitious, AI-first vision for global media. Under GTC, he has spoken of building the "biggest Global Indian Creators' Hub," with the new network spanning linear television, OTT, connected TV, and FAST channels, while staying rooted in Punjabi and Indian storytelling. Recent initiatives under his stewardship include GTC Punjabi's entry into the UK market and the newly announced Jaswinder Bhalla Memorial GTC Comedy Awards, honouring the late comedy icon's legacy.

Recognised globally for his contributions, Narayan was named among the Global Inspirational Leaders at the 2022 Global Business Summit in London, and has been a sought-after voice at platforms including TEDx and the WAVES Summit. He holds an Honorary PhD and continues to be a vocal advocate for the future of regional broadcasting and digital radio policy in India.