John Stankey, the chief operating officer of AT&T Inc., predicts the criticism the company is facing over its media strategy will fade away once it launches a new streaming-video product next year.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Stankey defended the company’s strategy and said AT&T doesn’t plan to sell its struggling satellite TV unit, DirecTV. Activist investor Elliott Management Corp. has criticized AT&T for shifting its plans in streaming video and for executive turnover, among other complaints.

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