Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,616	$ 1,600	$ 4,807	$ 4,857
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	694	681	2,088	2,098
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	467	464	1,430	1,451
Depreciation and amortization	186	175	550	504
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	1,004		1,004
Restructuring charges	5	19	52	108
Operating income/(loss)	(740)	261	(317)	696
Interest income	1	2	4	6
Interest expense	(100)	(99)	(299)	(295)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net	(6)	(8)	(10)	(12)
Other income/(expense), net	(3)	1	2	(3)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income/(loss) of affiliates	(848)	157	(620)	392
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes	380	(59)	325	(142)
Equity in net income/(loss) of affiliates				(1)
Net income/(loss)	(468)	98	(295)	249
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	2	11	9
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ (472)	$ 96	$ (306)	$ 240
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ (1.33)	$ 0.27	$ (0.86)	$ 0.67
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ (1.33)	$ 0.27	$ (0.86)	$ 0.67
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	355,779,274	354,993,315	355,620,821	355,737,081
Dilutive shares of common stock		568,389		661,438
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	355,779,274	355,561,704	355,620,821	356,398,519
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.35	$ 0.35	$ 1.05	$ 1.04