The Fox Business Network told Republican presidential candidates that it wouldn’t show an empty podium at its next GOP debate as long as they followed the rules in a memo obtained Tuesday by Politico.
ABC News showed an empty podium at its Democratic debate last month after presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took too long to get to her post following a commercial break.
Fox Business told candidates in the memo that it would not show an empty podium, but expects “the candidates to consider and follow Fox’s guidance when leaving and returning to their podiums during commercial breaks,” Politico reported.
The memo noted that bathrooms will be located backstage. The debate, scheduled for Jan. 14, won’t have opening statements and 30-second closing statements, according to the report.