A:Answer If the TV has an HDMI audio out or HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), then you can connect the TV to an AMP that supports the translation of HDMI audio to SP/DIF Optical Out (most home theater Amps will do this these days).
However, since a big part of the reason to go with a sound bar is to avoid needing an Amp, it's kind of a clunky solution.
I don't know of anyone who makes a compact HDMI ARC->SP/DIF Optical Out adapter, but they might exist.
If your TV has a co-axial SP/DIF out, you might be able to buy a co-ax to optical converter for SP/DIF and use that to drive the sound-bar.
If the TV doesn't have SP/DIF or HDMI Audio Out, then the TV doesn't have digital out and your limitations are built into the TV, not something that can be solved externally.