Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total		Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Currency Translation Adjustments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Available-for-Sale Securities	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Cash Flow Hedges	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Post Employment Benefits	Total Nielsen Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 5,807		$ 32	$ (13)	$ 6,609	$ (512)	$ (124)	$ 9	$ (5)	$ (267)	$ 5,729	$ 78
Net income	381					384					384	(3)
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(301)	[1]					(294)				(294)	(7)
Unrealized loss on pension liability, net of tax	(109)	[2]								(109)	(109)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities, net of tax	10							10			10
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	3	[3]							3		3
(Divestiture)/acquisition of an interest in a consolidated subsidiary	(1)											(1)
Noncontrolling interest in a newly consolidated subsidiary	11											11
Dividends to stockholders	(360)				(359)						(359)	(1)
Shares of common stock issued in business combinations	3			1	2						3
Exercise of stock options	108			63	45						108
Repurchase of common stock	(466)			(466)							(466)
Stock-based compensation expense	47				47						47
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	5,133		32	(415)	6,344	(128)	(418)	19	(2)	(376)	5,056	77
Net income	575					570					570	5
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(357)	[1]					(349)				(349)	(8)
Unrealized loss on pension liability, net of tax	87	[2]								87	87
Realized gain on available for sale securities, net of tax	(19)							$ (19)			(19)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(1)	[3]							(1)		(1)
Capital contribution by non-controlling partner	3											3
(Divestiture)/acquisition of an interest in a consolidated subsidiary	116				(1)						(1)	117
Dividends to stockholders	(398)				(297)	(101)					(398)
Shares of common stock issued in business combinations	2				2						2
Exercise of stock options	75			78	(3)						75
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation	30				30						30
Repurchase of common stock	(667)			(467)	(200)						(667)
Equity conversion				$ 804	(804)
Stock-based compensation expense	48				48						48
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	4,627		32		5,119	341	(767)		(3)	(289)	4,433	194
Adoption of stock-based compensation standard | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09	47					47					47
Net income	507					502					502	5
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(94)	[1]					(89)				(89)	(5)
Unrealized loss on pension liability, net of tax	(65)	[2]								(65)	(65)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	2	[3]							2		2
Capital contribution by non-controlling partner	7											7
(Divestiture)/acquisition of an interest in a consolidated subsidiary	(5)				(5)						(5)
Dividends to stockholders	(434)					(434)					(434)
Dividends to non-controlling interest	(10)											(10)
Exercise of stock options	78				78						78
Repurchase of common stock	(418)				(418)						(418)
Stock-based compensation expense	51				51						51
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,293		$ 32		$ 4,825	$ 456	$ (856)		$ (1)	$ (354)	$ 4,102	$ 191

[1] Net of tax of (9) million, $(15) million and $(18) million for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 respectively.

[2] Net of tax of $20 million, $(10) million and $32 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 respectively.

[3] Net of tax of $(2) million, $1 million and $(2) million for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 respectively.