Joint broadcast and unicast design for multiple-input multiple-output systems

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may transmit an encoded transmission via a broadcast to multiple user equipment (UE). Subsequently, the multiple UEs may transmit assistance information to the base station based on attempting to decode the broadcasted encoded transmission. If the decoding is unsuccessful for at least one UE, the base station may then transmit an additional encoded transmission via a unicast or multicast message to the UEs that were unsuccessful. Additionally, the base station may transmit configuration information for the multiple UEs to receive the encoded transmissions and to transmit the assistance information. For example, the configuration information may include portion information for how long the encoded transmission is transmitted via the broadcast, via the unicast, when to transmit the assistance information, etc. In some cases, the configuration information may be based on UE metrics of the multiple UEs.