Fair Value Measurements - Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Asset		$ 32	$ 76
Liabilities:
Liabilities		36	34
Interest Rate Swap Arrangements
Assets:
Asset			1
Liabilities:
Liabilities	[1]	6	6
Deferred Compensation Liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities	[2]	30	28
Level 1
Assets:
Asset		32	75
Liabilities:
Liabilities		30	28
Level 1 | Deferred Compensation Liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities	[2]	30	28
Level 2
Assets:
Asset			1
Liabilities:
Liabilities		6	6
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap Arrangements
Assets:
Asset			1
Liabilities:
Liabilities	[1]	6	6
Plan Assets for Deferred Compensation
Assets:
Asset	[3]	30	28
Plan Assets for Deferred Compensation | Level 1
Assets:
Asset	[3]	30	28
Investment In Mutual Funds
Assets:
Asset	[4]	2	2
Investment In Mutual Funds | Level 1
Assets:
Asset	[4]	$ 2	2
Investments in Equity Securities
Assets:
Asset	[5]		45
Investments in Equity Securities | Level 1
Assets:
Asset	[5]		$ 45

[1] Derivative financial instruments include interest rate swap arrangements recorded at fair value based on externally-developed valuation models that use readily observable market parameters and the consideration of counterparty risk.

[2] The Company offers certain employees the opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation plan. A participant’s deferrals are invested in a variety of participant directed stock and bond mutual funds and are classified as trading securities. Changes in the fair value of these securities are measured using quoted prices in active markets based on the market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held exclusive of any transaction costs. A corresponding adjustment for changes in fair value of the trading securities is also reflected in the changes in fair value of the deferred compensation obligation.

[3] Plan assets are comprised of investments in mutual funds, which are intended to fund liabilities arising from deferred compensation plans. These investments are carried at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices at period end in active markets. These investments are classified as trading securities with any gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value recorded in other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

[4] Investments in mutual funds are money-market accounts held with the intention of funding certain specific retirement plans.

[5] Investments in equity securities are carried at fair value, which is based on the quoted market price at period end in an active market. These investments are classified as available-for-sale with any unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value recorded, net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) until realized. Nielsen assesses declines in the value of individual investments to determine whether such decline is other than temporary and thus the investment is impaired by considering available evidence. No impairment charge was recorded for these available-for-sale securities during the years ended December 31, 2015 or 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company sold its investment in equity securities for total cash proceeds of $44 million and recorded a gain of $30 million in other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations.