A method is provided for transmitting user data messages from a network element of a radio communication system via at least one transmission channel to at least one subscriber terminal of the radio communication system, whereby the form of the user data messages is announced before the transmission thereof via planning information. The planning information includes a first planning message by which the transmission of the user data messages is announced via a first separate transmission channel, and a second planning message by which description information is transmitted via at least one second transmission channel, the description information indicating the form of the user data messages to be transmitted. The form of the user data messages to be transmitted can include the data type and/or the codification of the user data messages. Announcing the form of the user data messages in the planning information enables the subscriber terminal to only intercept or receive the user data messages that it can actually process, thus enabling energy to be saved during reception and processing.