Segments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business Segment Information

Business Segment Information

(IN MILLIONS)	Buy		Watch		Expositions		Corporate			Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Revenues	$	825	$	494	$	57	$	—		$	1,376
Depreciation and amortization	$	51	$	68	$	6	$	1		$	126
Restructuring charges	$	12	$	7	$	—	$	16		$	35
Stock-based compensation expense	$	3	$	2	$	—	$	5		$	10
Other items(1)	$	5	$	—	$	—	$	2		$	7
Operating income/(loss)	$	53	$	122	$	26	$	(30	)	$	171
Business segment income/(loss)(2)	$	124	$	199	$	32	$	(6	)	$	349
Total assets as of March 31, 2013	$	6,705	$	6,696	$	752	$	263		$	14,416

(IN MILLIONS)	Buy		Watch		Expositions		Corporate			Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
Revenues	$	799	$	474	$	61	$	—		$	1,334
Depreciation and amortization	$	53	$	68	$	6	$	2		$	129
Restructuring charges	$	31	$	5	$	—	$	1		$	37
Stock-based compensation expense	$	2	$	2	$	—	$	4		$	8
Other items(1)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	2		$	2
Operating income/(loss)	$	35	$	111	$	30	$	(19	)	$	157
Business segment income/(loss)(2)	$	121	$	186	$	36	$	(10	)	$	333
Total assets as of December 31, 2012	$	6,885	$	6,706	$	758	$	236		$	14,585

(1) Other items for the three months ended March 31, 2013 primarily consist of a $4 million write down of uninsured deposits in Cyprus banks as described in Note 12 in the condensed consolidated financial statements and deal related costs. Other items for the three months ended March 31, 2012 primarily consist of costs associated with Nielsen’s secondary public offering of common stock and other transaction related costs.

(2) The Company’s chief operating decision making group uses business segment income/(loss) to measure performance from period to period both at the consolidated level as well as within its operating segments.