The API exposes several range-to-iBeacon constants, in this case they're probably going for touch (aka immediate) so your iPhone knows you're trying to set up the Apple TV, instead of popping the dialog on every phone in range.

From the article: > The instruction to ‘tap’ the device to the Apple TV is likely just to ensure proximity.

In article it says you don't have to touch AppleTV. They were able to pair from 8 inch distance.

From my perspective, this seems why perhaps iBeacon isn't an NFC killer? NFC seems to have an advantage of requiring contact (baring a few millimetres gap because of device/case) to trigger an action (better for actions that are more 'intentional'?) whereas with iBeacon distance is bit of a woolly concept.