Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total		Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Currency Translation Adjustments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Cash Flow Hedges	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Post Employment Benefits	Total Nielsen Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 4,443		$ 32	$ 4,742	$ 411	$ (610)	$ 10	$ (340)	$ 4,245	$ 198
Net income/(loss)	75				72				72	3
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	41	[1]				39			39	2
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	11	[2]					11		11
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	4	[3]						4	4
Employee stock purchase plan	1			1					1
Dividends to shareholders	(124)				(121)				(121)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	14			14					14
Repurchase of common stock	(20)			(20)					(20)
Share-based compensation expense	13			13					13
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	4,458		32	4,750	362	(571)	21	(336)	4,258	200
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	3,043		32	4,720	(795)	(779)	11	(342)	2,847	196
Net income/(loss)	47				43				43	4
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	11	[1]				11			11
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(9)	[2]					(9)		(9)
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	4	[3]						4	4
Employee stock purchase plan	1			1					1
Capital contribution by non-controlling partner	2									2
Dividends to shareholders	(127)			(124)					(124)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(3)			(3)					(3)
Share-based compensation expense	20			20					20
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 2,989		$ 32	$ 4,614	$ (752)	$ (768)	$ 2	$ (338)	$ 2,790	$ 199

[1] Net of tax of $(4) million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively

[2] Net of tax of $3 million and $(4) million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively

[3] Net of tax of $(1) million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018