Watchdog

What is Watchdog

Watchdog reboots the Apple TV it if the GUI isn't running.

Apparently BackRow.framework does "BRSettingsHelper tellWatchdogWeAreUpAndRunning"

How to disable Watchdog

This Apple document about Watchdog may shed some light:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106588&coll=cp (However, on the Apple TV, there is no /etc/watchdog.conf, other than what this document is saying)