ESPN isn’t wasting any time. Question: Did the specter of Fox Sports 1, which debuts Aug. 17, hasten Olbermann’s return to ESPN?

Here’s the official release from ESPN. More to come.

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Keith Olbermann, who worked for ESPN from 1992-1997, will return to the company with a late-night program Monday-Friday on ESPN2, starting Monday, Aug. 26, it was announced by ESPN President John Skipper. Titled Olbermann, the show will generally be presented at 11 p.m. ET from ABC’s Times Square studios in New York City.

The program will focus on the day’s relevant sports topics through a mix of perspective and commentary, interviews, contributors, panel discussions and highlights.

“Keith is a one-of-a-kind personality and these shows will be appointment viewing for that very reason,” Skipper said. “Keith brings a blend of editorial sophistication and unpredictability — you can never be sure what you’ll get. Olbermann on ESPN2 gives viewers the quality late-night complement to ESPN’s SportsCenter in the same way we’ve developed distinct show options across our networks the rest of the day.”

Olbermann noted: “Apart from the opportunity to try to create a nightly hour of sports television that no fan can afford to miss, I’m overwhelmed by the chance to begin anew with ESPN. I’ve been gone for 16 years and not one day in that time has passed without someone connecting me to the network. Our histories are indelibly intertwined and frankly I have long wished that I had the chance to make sure the totality of that story would be a completely positive one. I’m grateful to friends and bosses – old and new – who have permitted that opportunity to come to pass. I’m not going to waste it.”