Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,628	$ 1,647	$ 3,191	$ 3,257
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	699	698	1,394	1,417
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	483	494	963	987
Depreciation and amortization	185	162	364	329
Restructuring charges	12	65	47	89
Operating income/(loss)	249	228	423	435
Interest income	1	2	3	4
Interest expense	(100)	(100)	(199)	(196)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net	(1)	(4)	(4)	(4)
Other income/(expense), net		(5)	5	(4)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income/(loss) of affiliates	149	121	228	235
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes	(23)	(44)	(55)	(83)
Equity in net income/(loss) of affiliates		(1)		(1)
Net income/(loss)	126	76	173	151
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	4	7	7
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 123	$ 72	$ 166	$ 144
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.35	$ 0.20	$ 0.47	$ 0.40
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.34	$ 0.20	$ 0.47	$ 0.40
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	355,630,327	355,773,490	355,539,038	356,115,127
Dilutive shares of common stock	997,381	602,670	954,854	707,962
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	356,627,708	356,376,160	356,493,892	356,823,089
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.35	$ 0.35	$ 0.70	$ 0.69