Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,572	$ 1,387	$ 4,655	$ 4,092
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	648	573	1,967	1,732
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	468	434	1,439	1,310
Depreciation and amortization	139	117	425	364
Restructuring charges	6	20	43	63
Operating income	311	243	781	623
Interest income	1	1	3	2
Interest expense	(74)	(78)	(229)	(229)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net	1	(7)	(32)	(23)
Other (expense)/income, net	(52)	12	(100)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	187	171	423	373
Provision for income taxes	(95)	(40)	(202)	(104)
Equity in net income of affiliates			2	3
Income from continuing operations	92	131	223	272
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				319
Net income	92	131	223	591
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	(3)		(4)
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 91	$ 134	$ 223	$ 595
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.24	$ 0.35	$ 0.59	$ 0.74
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				$ 0.85
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.24	$ 0.35	$ 0.59	$ 1.59
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.24	$ 0.35	$ 0.58	$ 0.73
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				$ 0.84
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 0.24	$ 0.35	$ 0.58	$ 1.57
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	380,884,561	377,590,584	379,891,241	374,943,623
Dilutive shares of common stock	5,006,830	4,711,433	5,283,261	4,858,966
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	385,891,391	382,302,017	385,174,502	379,802,589
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.25	$ 0.20	$ 0.70	$ 0.52