Households with HDTV service, which are defined as homes with an HDTV set that receive and watch HD programming, are projected to grow from 15 mln in mid-2006 to 20.3 mln at the end of 2006, In-Stat reports. As of mid-2006, the US and Japan accounted for 91% of all worldwide HDTV households. Other countries with significant numbers of HDTV households include Canada, Australia, and South Korea. The number of worldwide HDTV households is expected to spike over the next few years as new markets for HD services, particularly in Europe, open up. By the end of 2009, In-Stat is projecting that the number of HDTV households will exceed 55 mln.