Charles Dolan, the chairman of US cable operator Cablevision, has publicly supported calls from the Federal Communications Commission for an "a la carte" pricing model to be made available to cable customers.

The a la carte model would enable customers to buy channels on an individual basis instead of having to opt for service tiers and channel packages. Supporters of the model, including Dolan and FCC chairman Kevin Martin, assert that it would be advantageous to consumers who would be able to precisely choose their own channel lineups.

"Cablevision agrees with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's assertion before the Senate Commerce Committee on November 29 that the opportunity to purchase programming on an a la carte basis would be in the best interests of consumers," said Dolan in a statement.

Critics of a la carte pricing - including the National Cable TV Association - assert that the model would result in more expensive cable subscriptions and a reduction in diversity on cable because niche channels would no longer be subsidised by package pricing.

"...[P]revious and recent analyses were consistent in their findings that government pay-per-channel regulation would be likely to hurt consumers by increasing prices, decreasing choice and reducing diversity in programming, and it would do so in a way that violates the First Amendment," said the NCTA in a statement.

The NCTA position is backed by most of America's cable operators including industry heavyweights Time Warner Cable and Comcast. In supporting a la carte, Dolan has set Cablevision apart from its competitors. Cablevision serves 3m households in the New York metro area, including parts of Connecticut and Long Island. At this time, it does not offer a la carte pricing; instead, it offers a range of channel packages on its iO digital cable service.