Pager data is transmitted at different subcarrier frequencies on different FM broadcast channels. The subcarrier frequency of the pager data is selected to avoid conflicts with signals transmitted from other systems. The pager receiver decodes data at any one of the multiple subcarrier frequencies according to the active subcarrier used on the currently tuned broadcast channel. In one embodiment, the subcarrier frequency of the pager data is contained in control packets of a time division multiplexed data frame. The receiver decodes the control packets to determine which broadcast frequencies and associated subcarrier frequencies contain potential pager signals. The receiver accordingly searches the identified broadcast frequency and automatically reconfigures a circuit demodulator to decode data packets at the identified subcarrier frequencies.