Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues	$ 1,387	$ 1,351	$ 4,092	$ 3,966
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	573	550	1,732	1,649
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	434	429	1,310	1,295
Depreciation and amortization	117	124	364	367
Restructuring charges	20	4	63	57
Operating income	243	244	623	598
Interest income	1	1	2	3
Interest expense	(78)	(100)	(229)	(301)
Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net	(7)	1	(23)	(12)
Other income/(expense), net	12	(1)		3
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates	171	145	373	291
Provision for income taxes	(40)	(58)	(104)	(93)
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		(1)	3	1
Income from continuing operations	131	86	272	199
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		20	319	37
Net income	131	106	591	236
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	1	(4)	2
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 134	$ 105	$ 595	$ 234
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.35	$ 0.23	$ 0.74	$ 0.55
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.06	$ 0.85	$ 0.10
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.35	$ 0.29	$ 1.59	$ 0.65
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.35	$ 0.23	$ 0.73	$ 0.54
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.06	$ 0.84	$ 0.10
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.35	$ 0.29	$ 1.57	$ 0.64
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	377,590,584	362,016,373	374,943,623	361,477,554
Dilutive shares of common stock	4,711,433	4,205,147	4,858,966	4,511,519
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	382,302,017	366,221,520	379,802,589	365,989,073
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.20		$ 0.52