Is Santa Bringing HD Radio to a Store Near You ?

[dumber than a box of hair]

Maybe they're trying to get out of the AM game?

Yes and no.  CRTC's goal is eventually to move all broadcasting to the FM band, but in the process all the AMs that go silent are still notified to the NARBA countries, meaning that their silence cannot be used as a reason for other stations to "let out" their directional patterns that protect those stations.

[ElCheapo]

Here's how persuasive they have been E-C... The CBC used to operate 50kw "clear" 740 in Toronto.  It was recently sold to The CHUM Group LTD, and is now one of those "nasty" commercial stations... I believe playing a lot of Frank and Bing.  Such is the case many other places in Canada, as the they head toward sat (for a very good reason--i.e. the great white north) and sell off their AM channels.  Please note, though--there are no lack of interested parties in the room when these AMs go up for auction.

I suspect they would be regardless - they're trading them for FM licenses.