Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Summary of Assumptions Used in Options

The following assumptions were used during 2012, 2011 and 2010:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Expected life (years)		3.50-6.00			3.50-6.00			2.85-4.17
Risk-free interest rate		0.38-0.83	%		1.18-2.23	%		1.28-2.12	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%
Expected volatility		28.00-30.30	%		31.70-42.00	%		58.00-63.00	%
Weighted average volatility		28.56	%		33.42	%		60.05	%

Summary of Stock Option Plan Activity

Nielsen’s stock option plan activity is summarized below:

	Number of Options (Time Based and Performance Based)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years		Aggregate Intrinsic Value in Millions
Stock Option Plan activity
Outstanding at December 31, 2009		16,354,797		$	17.52			7.40	$	29
Granted		1,094,353			18.76
Forfeited		(703,387	)		(20.46	)
Exercised		(625,554	)		(13.42	)
Outstanding at December 31, 2010		16,120,209			17.63			6.51	$	77
Granted		4,307,002			30.00
Forfeited		(684,306	)		(20.96	)
Exercised		(1,160,878	)		(13.20	)
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		18,582,027		$	20.65			5.77	$	175
Granted		4,133,381			28.00
Forfeited		(655,034	)		(24.30	)
Exercised		(2,372,536	)		(14.64	)
Outstanding at December 31, 2012		19,687,838		$	22.80			5.16	$	156
Exercisable at December 31, 2012		9,986,984		$	19.63			4.61	$	112