What's the advantage for the consumer? Are they going to be charged less?

Consumers should be charged less if they subscribe the premium channels only for specific hours. The fee is not necessary to be proportional to the hours - a somewhat lower rate than the full package rate would be enough to attract some subscribers who didn't sign up for those channels because they might only watch the channel once per week.

I would also say that consumers should be able to create their own digital packages. Why do I have to pick package A, B, or C? Why couldn't I custom create my own package?

I know that some of the technology is old and it requires a driver to come to your house to turn on package A, B, or C but that is also antiquated and expensive. Surely a better technology exists.

Most of either is contractual. Programmers figure on monthly subscription rates to the programmers, and to be in a package.

As for technology, that is not an issue anymore, so there is no technologocal solution for a contractual problem.