NFL Preseason football, now only $40…online.

Recently, we’ve been hearing a lot of discussion about reducing the number of preseason games, in part because the NFL doesn’t believe the fans are overly interested.  We are not yet to that point.  In the meantime, the NFL has decided to roll out a new package giving fans the chance to watch NFL Preseason games online…

…and it costs $39.99.

With preseason kicking off in August, NFL Network and NFL.com features the most NFL preseason game coverage ever. NFL.com unveils NFL Preseason Live to watch games online and NFL Network once again carries all 65 preseason games in HD.

For the first time, NFL.com offers NFL Preseason Live, a subscription product that delivers fans preseason games live. Users can watch available games online and choose from home or away broadcasts to complement a new viewing experience that includes movable picture-in-picture and mosaic layouts to watch multiple games at once. NFL Preseason Live is available for $39.99.

NFL Network is home to the entire NFL preseason game slate with all 65 matchups, including multiple replays, airing on the only network dedicated to football. The 2010 preseason schedule on NFL Network includes 10 live nationally-televised games, with all match-ups available in high definition. (via NFL)

It’s a gutsy move, to say the least.  I consider myself a die-hard football fan, but I can honestly say that there’s no way I’d pay $40.00 to have the ability to watch out-of-market NFL preseason games…online.  Furthermore, it seems like those die-hard fans willing to pay $40 for online preseason football would already have the NFL network, which would make NFL Preseason Live a moot point.

Regardless of its faults, the whole NFL Preseason Live plan really shows the apparent strength of the NFL brand.  For the package to have so many apparent strikes against it, and yet still be offered at a $40 price point?  That’s brand strength if I’ve ever seen it.

Of course, when you look at the bottom line, what does the NFL have to lose?  Any infrastructure necessary to show pre-season football games already exists, so there’s minimal cost to the NFL to implement the Preseason Live program.

On its face, it looks like its nearly pure profit. $40 per online user profit.