Dynamically adapting media playback rate

A method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processor of an electronic device that comprises a media player, one or more playback rate preferences for a user;
• obtaining audio data of recorded speech of a speaker in a media asset;
• analyzing the audio data to determine one or more parameters from among a genre for the media asset, a topic for the media asset, an accent of the speaker, and a burstiness level of the audio data;
• computing a recommended playback rate, based at least in part on the playback rate preferences and the one or more parameters;
• setting a playback rate of a media player to the recommended playback rate;
• and
• rendering the media asset at the recommended playback rate, using the media player.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions that when executed by a processor of an electronic device comprising an audio output device and a media player, configure the electronic device to perform functions comprising:

• obtaining one or more playback rate preferences for a user;
• obtaining audio data of recorded speech of a speaker in a media asset;
• analyzing the audio data to determine one or more parameters from among a genre for the media asset, a topic for the media asset, an accent of the speaker, and a burstiness level of the audio data;
• computing a recommended playback rate, based at least in part on the one or more playback rate preferences and the one or more parameters;
• setting a playback rate of a media player to the recommended playback rate;
• and
• rendering the media asset at the recommended playback rate, using the media player.