“Apple is set to break new ground with iTunes, offering movie rentals in a bid to rejuvenate that sluggish part of the otherwise boffo service,” Dade Hayes and Ben Fritz report for Variety.

“Fox and Disney will be announced as partners in a major unveiling by Apple chief Steve Jobs at the annual MacWorld confab on Jan. 14, according to studio sources,” Hayes and Fritz report.

“Apple’s two major studio partners could be joined by other distribs, perhaps Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM, which already make library titles available for purchase on iTunes. Rentals are expected to cost between $2 and $5 for a 24-hour period,” Hayes and Fritz report.

Full article here.

As expected. As we said on Wednesday, “This sounds very promising and bodes well for Apple TV, too. Assume this will include Disney, too.”

The jury’s out on the pricing and terms, however. Other reports have mentioned rental terms of 30 days for US$2.99. As usual, we’ll have to wait for Jobs’ keynote on January 15th for the full story.