Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business Segment Information

Business Segment Information

	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Revenues
Buy	$	3,345		$	3,523		$	3,406
Watch		2,827			2,765			2,297
Total	$	6,172		$	6,288		$	5,703
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Business segment income/(loss)(1)
Buy	$	624		$	658		$	660
Watch		1,269			1,214			989
Corporate and eliminations		(35	)		(35	)		(32	)
Total	$	1,858		$	1,837		$	1,617
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Depreciation and amortization
Buy	$	207		$	224		$	199
Watch		363			343			302
Corporate and eliminations		4			6			9
Total	$	574		$	573		$	510
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Restructuring charges
Buy	$	32		$	64		$	47
Watch		14			14			55
Corporate and eliminations		5			11			17
Total	$	51		$	89		$	119
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Stock-based compensation expense
Buy	$	15		$	14		$	14
Watch		8			10			11
Corporate and eliminations		25			23			22
Total	$	48		$	47		$	47
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Other items(2)
Buy	$	1		$	(2	)	$	1
Watch		4			11			51
Corporate and eliminations		87			30			28
Total	$	92		$	39		$	80
	Year Ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015			2014			2013
Operating income/(loss)
Buy	$	369		$	358		$	399
Watch		880			836			570
Corporate and eliminations		(156	)		(105	)		(108	)
Total	$	1,093		$	1,089		$	861

(IN MILLIONS)	December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Total assets
Buy	$	6,537	$	6,869
Watch		8,650		8,156
Corporate and eliminations		116		301
Total	$	15,303	$	15,326

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

(2) For the year ended December 31, 2015, other items consist of a $36 million donation to the Nielsen Foundation, $14 million charge for a vested cash out of certain U.S. pension plan participants, and other non-recurring costs. For the year ended December 31, 2014, other items primarily consist of non-recurring costs.

	Year ended December 31,
(IN MILLIONS)	2015		2014		2013
Capital expenditures
Buy	$	159	$	206	$	171
Watch		244		198		197
Corporate and eliminations		5		8		6
Total	$	408	$	412	$	374

Geographical Segment Information

Geographic Segment Information

			Operating			Long-
			Income/			lived
(IN MILLIONS)	Revenues(1)		(Loss)			Assets(2)
2015
United States	$	3,606	$	761		$	10,683
North and South America, excluding the United States		567		131			944
United Kingdom		226		(6	)		240
Other Europe, Middle East & Africa		1,030		120			843
Asia Pacific		743		87			335
Total	$	6,172	$	1,093		$	13,045
			Operating			Long-
			Income/			lived
(IN MILLIONS)	Revenues(1)		(Loss)			Assets(2)
2014
United States	$	3,415	$	700		$	10,255
North and South America, excluding the United States		670		161			1,150
United Kingdom		217		(25	)		207
Other Europe, Middle East & Africa		1,215		160			922
Asia Pacific		771		93			385
Total	$	6,288	$	1,089		$	12,919
			Operating
			Income/
(IN MILLIONS)	Revenues(1)		(Loss)
2013
United States	$	2,857	$	414
North and South America, excluding the United States		660		167
United Kingdom		193		(11	)
Other Europe, Middle East & Africa		1,234		202
Asia Pacific		759		89
Total	$	5,703	$	861

(1) Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of customers.

(2) Long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets.