Three days before 10 Republican presidential hopefuls are scheduled to debate on Fox News, many of them will participate in a nationally televised forum hosted by C-SPAN.

Steve Scully, C-SPAN's politics executive producer, was not shy about touting his network's scoop, AdWeek noted. "This event is significant" Scully said, "because it will afford the public its first opportunity to hear all of the Republican presidential candidates answer questions on one stage."

So far, the Washington-based network has received confirmations from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. George Pataki.

C-SPAN has also invited former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, business mogul Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

All of them are part of the increasingly crowded field of contenders for the Republican nomination in the 2016 White House race or, in the case of Gilmore and Kasich, are expected to soon announce their candidacies.

The C-SPAN forum, which will be hosted by WGIR radio's Jack Heath, was prompted in part by Fox News's decision to cap the number of candidates in its initial debate on Aug. 6, to 10 GOP candidates.

"Fox says only the 'top' 10 candidates, as judged solely by national polling, will be allowed on its stage," the network and newspapers said in a joint statement. "That may be understandable later, but the first votes are half a year away and there are a lot more than 10 viable candidates. The early primary process gives all candidates a chance to be heard."

According to The Hill, C-SPAN will partner with  the (Manchester, New Hampshire) Union Leader, the (Charleston, South Carolina) Post and Courier and the (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette -- all important local newspapers in the critical early caucus and primary states.