Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

20. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

	First		Second		Third		Fourth
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)	Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter
2016
Revenues	$	1,487	$	1,596	$	1,570	$	1,656
Operating income	$	224	$	282	$	296	$	341
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	$	145	$	196	$	214	$	261
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	100	$	113	$	130	$	159
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	0.28	$	0.31	$	0.36	$	0.44
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	0.27	$	0.31	$	0.36	$	0.44
	First		Second		Third		Fourth
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)	Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter
2015
Revenues	$	1,458	$	1,559	$	1,531	$	1,624
Operating income	$	199	$	286	$	298	$	310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	$	101	$	202	$	225	$	433
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	63	$	114	$	142	$	251
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	0.17	$	0.31	$	0.39	$	0.69
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$	0.17	$	0.31	$	0.38	$	0.68