When you’re trying to decide between video services, chances are you’re choosing between services like cable TV and various streaming services. We’ll break down the differences between them to help you find the best way to keep you and your family entertained.

While both cable TV and video streaming services offer the same result (entertaining video on your screen), the way they do it is significantly different. Cable providers broadcast video content over their own networks and have long-term relationships with content providers. The pay TV industry is built on this structure, and the product you receive reflects that. Cable TV is typically more reliable and offers more content, at the (literal) price of being more expensive.

Streaming providers, on the other hand, are newcomers to the video market and are not bound by the same rules. They can offer their services nationwide and you can use their services with different devices. They are not tied to legacy infrastructure, which is both a blessing and a curse. They can deliver over any internet connection, but they are also completely dependent on that connection and have no control over its quality. They usually offer cheaper subscriptions, although they contain fewer channels.

Let’s get straight to the point… when it comes to content availability, cable still has the upper hand over most streaming services. Their channel offerings typically number in the hundreds and typically include most (if not all) of the “variant” channels for networks like sports. But this is also why you pay so much for cable. Their ability to provide you with content is based on package deals with major content networks, and while they cost less per channel, you don’t have the luxury of choice.