A method comprises receiving by a MAC layer of a content server a transmission frame from an upper layer of the content server, the transmission frame being associated with a given access class of multiple access classes, the given access class being associated with a primary priority level, the transmission frame including content being associated with a secondary priority level; setting MAC layer parameter values based on the primary priority level, a given one of the MAC layer parameter values being based on the primary and secondary priority levels; and contending for access to a wireless medium using the MAC layer parameter values. The given one of the MAC layer parameter values may include AIFS, CWmax, CWmin, or TXOP. The method may further comprise generating the transmission frame by a hierarchically divided encryption protocol, e.g., MPEG, being resident in at least one of the upper layers of the content server.