Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may identify one or more user equipments (UEs) subscribed to receive broadcast transmissions. The base station may determine a first subset of the UEs is to receive broadcast transmissions via a direct link and a second subset of the UEs is to receive the packets from the broadcast transmission via a sidelink connection based on selection criteria. The base station may transmit an indication that the broadcast transmissions are to be received via either the direct link or sidelink connection to at least one of the first subset of UEs or the second subset of UEs. The base station may transmit the broadcast transmissions to the first subset of UEs via direct links, and the first subset of UEs may transmit the broadcast transmissions to one or more other UEs via sidelink connections.