A system is provided for scheduling for a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN). The system includes a central control configured to promote a plurality of enhanced node Bs (ENBs) transmitting one or more multicast traffic channels (MTCHs). The one or more MTCHs are provided during a variable scheduling period (SP) and include a data portion that contains MBSFN traffic content and a variable scheduling portion that contains scheduling information related to the MBSFN traffic content.