Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,413	$ 1,289	$ 4,111	$ 3,755
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	554	521	1,673	1,569
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	460	414	1,453	1,219
Depreciation and amortization	125	142	396	419
Restructuring charges	9	11	55	33
Operating income	265	201	534	515
Interest income	2	1	5	3
Interest expense	(114)	(169)	(368)	(491)
Loss on derivative instruments		(5)	(1)	(17)
Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net	(4)	(5)	(7)	141
Other (expense)/income, net			(221)	9
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates	149	23	(58)	160
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes	(44)	(2)	51	(14)
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates	(2)	1	(1)	1
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	103	22	(8)	147
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(11)	(1)	(19)
Net income/(loss)	103	11	(9)	128
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1		2	1
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders.	$ 102	$ 11	$ (11)	$ 127
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.28	$ 0.08	$ (0.03)	$ 0.53
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ (0.04)		$ (0.07)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.28	$ 0.04	$ (0.03)	$ 0.46
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.28	$ 0.08	$ (0.03)	$ 0.52
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ (0.04)		$ (0.07)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.28	$ 0.04	$ (0.03)	$ 0.45
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	359,381,233	276,651,344	349,910,371	276,483,502
Dilutive shares of common stock from stock compensation plans	5,090,571	3,525,480		2,926,670
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	364,471,804	280,176,824	349,910,371	279,410,172