In a mobile telecommunication system (10), a number of user equipments (40 45) may receive multimedia broadcast multicast services. The method for power allocation and user assignment for MBMS services determines any number (K) of user equipments which may be served without complete cell area coverage (78). For more than K user equipments (40 45) requesting MBMS services, dedicated channels are assigned (84). For user equipments requesting MBMS service during a broadcast, such user equipment is assigned to the channel (broadcast or dedicated) with the lower power requirement, if power is available. If the user is assigned to the broadcast channel, and power is available, power of the broadcast channel is adjusted (108). Otherwise, the power of the broadcast channel is increased and no further power is indicated as being available (112).