In one embodiment, each device in a frequency hopping communication network operates according to a common broadcast schedule for the network that simultaneously overlays a configured portion of all independently determined unicast listening schedules in the network, wherein the overlaid configured portion is based on broadcast schedule parameters consisting of a first time spent for broadcast transmissions in each broadcast period and a second time between broadcast periods. By monitoring network characteristics relating to unicast traffic and broadcast traffic in the network, updated broadcast schedule parameters may then be determined based on the network characteristics. Operation of the common broadcast schedule may thus be updated with the updated broadcast schedule parameters, accordingly.