Interview to air starting Wednesday, August 22 on "World News with Diane Sawyer," ESPN, "Nightline," and Continuing on "Good Morning America," and "Good Afternoon America" on Thursday, August 23 as well as across all ABC News platforms including ABC Radio, News One, ABCNews.com and Yahoo!

In an exclusive television interview to air tonight, ABC News' Josh Elliott speaks with Dr. Graham Spanier, the embattled former president of Penn State, in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. For the first time viewers will hear, in his own words, his version of the events that allegedly took place under his leadership. Dr. Spanier will answer questions about what he knew and when he knew it and discuss the late Joe Paterno's knowledge and involvement in the situation. Paterno's dismissal after 45 years leading Penn State football came in the wake of this scandal.

The interview airs on Wednesday, August 22 on "World News with Diane Sawyer," ESPN, and "Nightline" on the ABC Television Network. Additional portions of the interview will air on "Good Morning America" on Thursday, August 23, continuing on "Good Afternoon America," and will be available on ABCNews.com, ABC News Radio and ABC NewsOne.

ESPN will air portions of the interview beginning on the late afternoon SportsCenter (on ESPNEWS) and on the ensuing SportsCenter beginning at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. In addition, Wednesday's "Outside the Lines" (3 p.m., ESPN) will feature a report from John Barr, who is at the Spanier's lawyers press conference in Philadelphia. Legal analyst Roger Cossack will also appear on the show. ESPN.com will also provide interview video and Barr's reporting.

Dr. Spanier, who served as President of Penn State for over 16 years, was widely considered among the most powerful university presidents in America and was one of the biggest champions of the vaunted "Penn State Way."

In his wide-ranging interview with Elliott, Dr. Spanier will discuss not only the recent events involving Jerry Sandusky and the state of Penn State football but will also reveal his personal story, including details about his own history of childhood abuse.

Today Dr. Spanier's attorneys held a press conference in Philadelphia to critique the Freeh Report.

-ABC-