The refusal by Dish Network to meet AT&T’s “untenable” carriage fee demands has resulted in the first blackout of HBO channels in the network’s history, in what is frankly an inevitable outcome following the Time Warner mega merger. Dish claims AT&T is forcing it to cough up cash for a guaranteed number of subscribers, regardless of how many consumers actually want to subscribe to HBO. Many, Dish included, now fear repeat situations will spring up across the country, harming consumers and pay TV providers particularly in rural areas where broadband infrastructure is poor – meaning the DirecTV satellite business can directly prosper. “AT&T is stacking the deck with free-for-life offerings to wireless customers and slashed prices on streaming services, effectively…