BRIEF HISTORY The FCC licensed Vernon Watson to broadcast on channel 12 in Pensacola, Florida in June 1992. The call sign W12CN was assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) The State of Florida assigned Watson Broadcasting Of Pensacola as a d.b.a. (doing business as) and WBOP was created. Vernon & Mary Lynn Watson become the first African Americans in Pensacola, Florida to own a broadcast television station Vernon Watson became the first General Manager of WBOP TV-12 From 1992 to 1994, WBOP TV-12 was operated out of the Watson's home, doing broadcasting 24 hours a day (no sales allowed). Local ordinances would not allow normal business transactions such as sales. productions operations and hiring employeees in a residential neighborhood. Revenue was generated by playing prerecorded tape. Local TV shows and commericals had to be produced outside of the hame based TV station. Most shows were local religious programs and local community events. There were some "live" shows produced and broadcasted "live" out of a mini studio within the Watson's home-based TV station. The first "live" show produced by WBOP TV was called "Smith & Smith On Sports". This was a "live" weekly show hosted by Michael Smith and Al Smith speaking on the current events in local and national sports that week Vernon Wells and Scott Gallowa were the first salesmen to be hired to work for WBOP TV-12 In 1994, WBOP TV-12 moved to our current location at 3101 North "R" Street and started normal business operations and sales activities. During 1994 and 1995, there were a continuous struggle and long fight to be added the local cable system and to have our TV schedule listed in the local newspaper. In late 1994, we won the battle to be listed in Pensacola News Journal's newspaper daily TV listing and weekly TV guide. In February 1995, WBOP held an Open House to celebrate it's new location In March 1995, WBOP became the Gulf Coast's first WB Affiliate (The Warner Bros. Network). WBOP TV-12 was only one of five Low Power TV Stations in the nation along with many High Power TV stations to serve as an affiliate for the "WB" national network. In October 1995, we changed our FCC call sign from W12CN to WBQP call letters. Contrary to popular belief, WBOP was never our official FCC call sign but rather a doing business as (d.b.a.) name to resemble a four letter call sign. During 1994 and 1995, there were a continuous struggle and long fight to be added the local cable system and to have our TV schedule listed in the local newspaper. In October 1995, we leased a cable channel and was finally added to the Cox Cable system and was assigned channel 50, which increased our viewership an additional 80,000 new cable subscribers households In March 1996, WBQP TV-12 won the Pensacola's Chamber of Commerce Minority Business of the Year Award. In September 1997, WBQP TV-12 created a web page on the World Wide Web with it's own web site at "http://www.wbqp.com" In October 1997, WBQP TV-12 adapted a new motto: "The Station That Cares" In December 1997, WBQP TV-12 incorporated as Watson Broadcasting, Inc. In February 1998, WBQP TV-12 installed electronic news gathering (ENG/EFP) equipment to enhance production by having the capability to do remote broadcasts In March 1998, WBQP TV-12 became the first TV station in Pensacola to install a Tower Cam/Weather Cam In April 1998, WBQP TV-12 began broadcasting 24 hours a day on the internet. Web casting will allow anyone in the world to view WBQP TV-12 broadcasts. WBQP TV-12 was the first African American owned TV station to web cast 24 hours a day. In May 1998, WBQP TV-12 entered into a mentoring program agreement with the local ABC affiliate WEAR TV-3. WEAR TV Channel 3 agreed to mentor WBQP TV-12 for one year to provide managerial and technical knowledge to help become a professional broadcaster. In June 1998, WBQP TV-12 was required by Cox Communications to change our cable channel position from channel 50 to channel 57 on the Cox's cable system In August 1998, WBQP TV-12 installed a larger TV transmitter that is 10x times more powerful than the current transmitter.

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