Method and apparatus for supporting application-layer media multicasting

A method and apparatus for delivering media to a group of targeted communication devices allows multipropagation of media to the group of targeted communication devices in order to economize network resources. The disclosed embodiments allow a significant reduction in network traffic and the time required for media processing, by transmitting the media in multipropagation transport mode, whereby a single copy of the media intended for a group of targeted receivers is transmitted to a wireless infrastructure via the multipropagation path. The wireless infrastructure replicates and transmits a copy of the media to each of the targeted receivers that have been assigned to dedicated channels, but multipropagates a copy of the media to the targeted receivers that have been assigned to a shared channel.