Will all TVs (non-HDTV) become obsolete or can we purchase an adapter?

Answer 1

(This answer assumes that you live in the US)

The old TV's will still work. There are converter boxes that will allow them to receive all of the new digital over the air broadcasts, including "HD" broadcasts. Starting in Jan 2008 the government will have a coupon program so people can buy a couple of them at about $20 each.

Cable & satellite customers can continue to get analog service after the over the air analog broadcasts end on 2/17/09. This date only effects over the air broadcasts.

Your question includes a common misconception. You need a digital tuner to receive the digital channels; it does not have to be "HD". "HD" programing has a more detailed picture than non-HD, but if your converter or TV can only display SD quality, the reciever downconverts the picture information to match what the TV can display.

Some of these broadcasts will be in "HD", others will be in "SD". This doesn't matter to people who use the converter boxes because they convert all of the digital signals, including HD ones, to SD. SD is equivalent to the quality of picture that you get from a DVD player.

You can buy new SDTVs that can receive all the new digital OTA channels. Like the converter boxes, they convert HD signals to SD.

Cheat Sheet
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Old type OTA TV signals = NTSC = "Analog TV"

New type OTA TV signals = ATSC = "Digital TV" = DTV

Digital signals used on some cable systems = QAM

OTA = "Over the Air" = stuff you get through your TV antenna

"CECB" = government speak for TV converter boxes that qualify for their coupon program. Stands for "Coupon-Eligible Converter Box"