Google's got Youtube, the biggest video platform in the world. It only makes sense that the search giant would want to use it to make money in the burgeoning online video rental market.

The Financial Times and other news outlets are reporting that that's exactly what Google has plans for: Youtube pay-per-view films from major Hollywood studios.

(Check out Youtube's existing rental store.)

Off the top of my head, this has some great potential for Google, which is looking for ways to monetize Youtube. It also bodes well for the consumer, who increasingly is getting access to cheap (or free) streaming video content online, which threaten the cable monopolies.

I, for one, am a huge fan of my Roku digital player box, which enables me to stream quality video through Network and Amazon's Video on Demand service, and lesser quality internet video fare through other "channels." I'd love to see Google movie rentals brought to the Roku.

But you're more likely to see Google rentals become part of Google TV, Google's own foray into the living room with its own television interface for consumption of Internet media.

Now, the question is: if Google video rentals become a reality, will Apple offer them on its rumored new iTV device platform, set to debut tomorrow?