A la carte cable television

A la carte pay television (from the French à la carte, "from the menu"), also referred to as pick-and-pay, refers to a pricing model for pay television services in which customers subscribe to individual television channels. A la carte pricing contrasts with the prevailing model of bundling, in which channels are grouped into packages that are offered on an all-or-nothing basis.

The term "a la carte" as applied to pay television has at least two meanings. In the strictest sense, the term refers to the ability of subscribers to select and pay for specific shows, such as is afforded on some Internet services like Amazon Video and iTunes. More conventionally, the term implies that subscribers can choose and pay for individual channels, and it is this definition that is usually employed in the discussions about the issue. In North America, cable and satellite providers offer this pricing scheme, but mostly for premium channels (such as HBO and Showtime) and out-of-market sports packages (such as NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass). The vast majority of channels remains in bundled tiers.

Some Internet-based subscription services also offer programmed "channels" that are available a la carte. With its 50 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix's streaming service established the sector, providing original programming as well as television series and films acquired from various distributors for a set monthly fee, with shows available on-demand. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos made the distinction by noting that subscribers "can cancel Netflix with one click. Try calling your cable company and getting rid of a channel you’re not watching." In October 2014, HBO and CBS announced comparable over-the-top services (HBO Now and CBS All Access) distributed via the Internet and mobile devices, as did Lions Gate Entertainment in partnership with Tribeca Entertainment.

...
Wikipedia