Yeah I Know, I ran into this problem of trying to get past the date screen of my recently restored apple tv without a remote last week. Because somebody assured me in one of these forums that I could use the iphone remote app if I connected My apple tv via ethernet cable to my wifi modem. My longest ethernet cable required me to set up my television in my kitchen sink area ( too much information I know). Then I discovered that I still could not get past the date screen with no remote, so there was no way I could teach my newly restored apple tv a new remote or type in my wifi password for it to recognise my iphone remote app.
Then i saw the flashing message giving me the cue to connect a bluetooth keyboard now. problem fixed I can take my tv out of the kitchen sink because my ten dollar bluetooth keyboard had arrow buttons.
FYI this forum is a place I come when I have a problem so now that I found a solution to a relevant part of a question "restore without a remote" I thought Id share what worked for me, you know so people dont set up there tv in they're kitchen sink. This is one of the first links I clicked searching for help. No one answered the question about the remote. I am new to this forum but thought "you know if I had found this information when I clicked on that first link I would not have to dissconnect my entire entertainment system and put it close to a tap in order to fix it ( because I have an irrational fear of putting electronics near water)." My logic is that I was being considerate to others.
Also note my stupidity for not reading the flashing bluetooth keyboard cue before disconnecting my tv and for washing my cool apple tv remote in the washing maschine, perhaps causing an irrational fear of putting electronics near water.
