Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,563	$ 1,610
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	695	719
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	480	493
Depreciation and amortization	179	167
Restructuring charges	35	24
Operating income	174	207
Interest income	2	2
Interest expense	(99)	(96)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net	(3)
Other income/(expense), net	5	1
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	79	114
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes	(32)	(39)
Net income/(loss)	47	75
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	3
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 43	$ 72
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.12	$ 0.20
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.12	$ 0.20
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	355,444,756	356,460,561
Dilutive shares of common stock	912,327	813,254
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	356,357,083	357,273,815
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.35	$ 0.34