Embodiments are directed to monitoring downlink communication at an access terminal within a wireless communications system. The access terminal monitors data on a first downlink broadcast channel of a first network at least with a primary antenna of the access terminal, the monitored data associated with an active communication session (e.g., a high-priority multicast communication session) of the access terminal. The access terminal may optionally periodically monitor messaging information on a downlink channel of a second network with a secondary antenna of the access terminal, the primary antenna having a higher sensitivity than the secondary antenna. The access terminal maintains an exclusive allocation of the primary antenna to the first network irrespective of a quality level of the periodically monitored messaging information on the downlink channel of the second network.