Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for supporting local MBMS distribution are provided. One method includes receiving, by a broadcast multicast service center (BM-SC), an activate multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) bearer request message to initiate an activate multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) bearer request procedure. The activate MBMS bearer request message comprises at least one of information on local MBMS distribution received from a local MBMS entity (LME), or a destination area, or a destination area and an indication that preferred delivery is via local distribution. The method may further include determining whether local distribution path will be used based on at least one of information received in the activate MBMS bearer request message, or stored information about local MBMS entities.