Battle stations

“We look for people who can deliver the news, then tell you the meaning behind it, who can have opinions that matter to this market,’’ Bridgen said.

No one on either network is as opinionated as Michael Felger, whose day job is afternoon drive co-host on 98.5 The Sports Hub. The brash but self-effacing Felger has proven a franchise player for Comcast as the host and chief antagonist on “Sports Tonight’’ and “Sports Sunday.’’

“He is the dominant sports personality in the marketplace, in part on what he’s done with us, but playing in part on what he’s done at The Sports Hub,’’ Mead said.

While NESN has plenty of standouts, from Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy on Red Sox telecasts to vastly underrated studio host Tom Caron to Bruins analyst Andy Brickley, it lacks the roster depth of CSNNE. Popular personalities, most notably Hazel Mae in June 2008, have left in part because of disagreements over salary, and there are indications that more turnover could be ahead.

Bruins studio anchor Kathryn Tappen is expected to depart for the NHL Network in the next couple of weeks; according to an industry source, former Bruins play-by-play voice Dale Arnold is a candidate to replace her. Orsillo has been pursued by TBS, for whom he has done outstanding work calling the baseball postseason the past few seasons. And Red Sox reporter Heidi Watney nearly left after last season but had the option on her three-year contract picked up. Her status for next season remains uncertain.

“All television networks deal with these kinds of issues,’’ McGrail said. “We’ve been fortunate to keep a strong nucleus of talent.’’

For his part, McGrail said his emphasis is on making NESN the best it can be rather than any direct competition with CSNNE.

“If they’re focused on us, I guess that’s a form of flattery,’’ McGrail said. “I’m much more focused on the big-picture market, all of the entertainment options, and how do we get them to NESN every night.’’

Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globechadfinn.