Changes in and Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by Component (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax by Component

The table below summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax, by component for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Currency
	Translation						Post-Employment
	Adjustments			Cash Flow Hedges			Benefits			Total
(IN MILLIONS)
Balance December 31, 2018	$	(779	)	$	11		$	(342	)	$	(1,110	)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before    reclassifications		11			(6	)		2			7
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other    comprehensive (income)/loss		—			(3	)		2			(1	)
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)    attributable to Nielsen shareholders		11			(9	)		4			6
Balance March 31, 2019	$	(768	)	$	2		$	(338	)	$	(1,104	)

	Currency
	Translation					Post-Employment
	Adjustments			Cash Flow Hedges		Benefits			Total
(IN MILLIONS)
Balance December 31, 2017	$	(610	)	$	10	$	(340	)	$	(940	)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before    reclassifications		41			11		1			53
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other    comprehensive income/(loss)		—			—		3			3
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)		41			11		4			56
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)    attributable to noncontrolling interest		2			—		—			2
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)    attributable to Nielsen shareholders		39			11		4			54
Balance March 31, 2018	$	(571	)	$	21	$	(336	)	$	(886	)

Summary of Reclassification of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component

The table below summarizes the reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

	Amount Reclassified from
	Accumulated Other
(IN MILLIONS)	Comprehensive Loss/(Income)
Details about Accumulated							Affected Line Item in the
Other Comprehensive	Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended			Condensed Consolidated
Income components	March 31, 2019			March 31, 2018			Statement of Operations
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate contracts	$	(4	)	$	—		Interest (income)/expense
		1			—		(Benefit)/provision for income taxes
	$	(3	)	$	—		Total, net of tax
Amortization of Post-Employment Benefits
Actuarial loss	$	3		$	4		(a)
		(1	)		(1	)	(Benefit)/provision for income taxes
	$	2		$	3		Total, net of tax
Total reclassification for the period	$	(1	)	$	3		Net of tax

(a) This accumulated other comprehensive loss component is included in the computation of net periodic pension cost.