A method performed at an apparatus includes receiving a request for media content corresponding to a user equipment; requesting and receiving some of the media content from a server; and if the requested media content should not be optimized, sending, through the network toward the user equipment, information that causes a node to direct additional requests from the user equipment for the media content through the network toward the server without passing through the apparatus. Another method includes receiving a redirect message comprising an indication corresponding to a location of media content and comprising a tag indicating the redirect message should cause a first apparatus to redirect requests from a user equipment for the media content to a server having the media content without passing through a second apparatus; and for requests received from the user equipment and corresponding to the indication, forwarding requests through the network toward the server.