A mobile device experiences a condition where a time overlap exists between a packet data burst being communicated over a packet data channel of a serving cell and broadcast data burst being communicated over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. The mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is not a candidate for an upcoming handoff. On the other hand, the mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the broadcast data burst instead of the packet data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is a candidate for an upcoming handoff. The mobile device may set the RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on further identifying that a call drop is imminent.