An access network determines to transmit multicast messages on a downlink shared channel. The access network receives a multicast registration message and a traffic channel request from at least one access terminal. The access network assigns a traffic channel to the at least one access terminal, and transmits the multicast messages on the downlink shared channel. In another example, the access network can determine a channel type upon which the support a multicast session, can indicate the channel type selection to the at least one access terminal in an announce message and can then transmit the multicast messages for the multicast session on the selected channel type. The at least one access terminal receives the announce message, requests a traffic channel and receives a traffic channel assignment, registers to the multicast session and monitors the downlink shared channel for multicast messages.