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Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Revenues $ 1,376 $ 1,334 $ 5,590 [1] $ 5,507 [1] $ 5,103 [1]
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 593 564 2,273 2,234 2,125
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 451 446 1,756 1,867 1,632
Depreciation and amortization 126 129 513 524 554
Restructuring charges 35 37 84 84 61
Operating income 171 158 964 798 731
Interest income 1 1 4 6 5
Interest expense (81) (100) (390) (456) (660)
Loss on derivative instruments       (1) (27)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net (12) (10) (16) (9) 135
Other (expense)/income, net (12) (6) (118) (209) (81)
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates 67 43 444 129 103
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes (27) (11) (146) (21) 46
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates (1) (2) 5 3 5
Income from continuing operations 39 30 303 111 154
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (3) (2) (7) 1 (22)
Net income 36 28 296 112 132
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)   (1) 3 3
Net income attributable to controlling interest 37 28 297 109 129
Total other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 2        
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income (18) 88 (34) (203) (44)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest (20)        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 18 116 265 (92) 87
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 1   2 2 2
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests 17 116 263 (94) 85
Nielsen [Member]
          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Interest income   1 2 7 7
Interest expense   (1) (1) (13) (49)
Other (expense)/income, net       (52)  
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates     1 (58) (42)
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes         1
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 37 28 296 167 170
Income from continuing operations 37 28 297 109 129
Net income 37 28 297 109 129
Net income attributable to controlling interest 37   297 109 129
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income (20) 88 (34) (203) (44)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest (20)        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 17 116 263 (94) 85
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests 17   263 (94) 85
Issuers [Member]
          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Interest income 147 139 569 548 501
Interest expense (77) (95) (367) (426) (597)
Loss on derivative instruments       (1) (27)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net         111
Other (expense)/income, net (12) (6) (121) (182) (91)
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates 58 38 81 (61) (103)
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes (20) (14) (32) 21 36
Income from continuing operations 38 24 49 (40) (67)
Net income 38 24 49 (40) (67)
Net income attributable to controlling interest 38   49 (40) (67)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income 9 (8) (4) 7 6
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest 9        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 47 16 45 (33) (61)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests 47   45 (33) (61)
Guarantor [Member]
          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Revenues 714 682 2,823 2,680 2,559
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 272 253 1,018 970 987
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 219 219 851 938 817
Depreciation and amortization 97 102 397 406 437
Restructuring charges 19 9 27 31 42
Operating income 107 99 530 335 276
Interest income 13 17 59 25 31
Interest expense (155) (152) (615) (593) (538)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net   (1) (2) (7) (26)
Other (expense)/income, net 19 19 148 191 45
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates (16) (18) 120 (49) (212)
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes 4 7 (33) 8 81
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 51 41 206 207 322
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates (2) (2) 3   1
Income from continuing operations 37 28 296 166 192
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax       1 (22)
Net income 37 28 296 167 170
Net income attributable to controlling interest 37   296 167 170
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income (19) 77 (37) (182) (15)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest (19)        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 18 105 259 (15) 155
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests 18   259 (15) 155
Non-Guarantor [Member]
          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Revenues 662 652 2,767 2,827 2,544
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 321 311 1,255 1,264 1,138
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 232 227 905 929 815
Depreciation and amortization 29 27 116 118 117
Restructuring charges 16 28 57 53 19
Operating income 64 59 434 463 455
Interest income 4 8 28 30 23
Interest expense (12) (16) (61) (28) (33)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net (12) (9) (14) (2) 50
Other (expense)/income, net (19) (19) (145) (166) (35)
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates 25 23 242 297 460
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes (11) (4) (81) (50) (72)
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates 1   2 3 4
Income from continuing operations 15 19 163 250 392
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (3) (2) (7)    
Net income 12 17 156 250 392
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)   (1) 3 3
Net income attributable to controlling interest 13   157 247 389
Total other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 2        
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income (62) 116 34 (216) (163)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest (64)        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (50) 133 193 33 228
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 1   2 2 2
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests (51)   191 31 226
Elimination [Member]
          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Interest income (163) (164) (654) (604) (557)
Interest expense 163 164 654 604 557
Equity in net income of subsidiaries (88) (69) (502) (374) (492)
Income from continuing operations (88) (69) (502) (374) (492)
Net income (88) (69) (502) (374) (492)
Net income attributable to controlling interest (88)   (502) (374) (492)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income 74 (185) 7 391 172
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interest 74        
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (14) (254) (495) 17 (320)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests $ (14)   $ (495) $ 17 $ (320)
[1] Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of customers.