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)	249				240				240	9
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(97)	[1]				(98)			(98)	1
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	16	[2]					16		16
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	12	[3]						12	12
Employee stock purchase plan	4			4					4
Dividends to shareholders	(380)				(370)				(370)	(10)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	17			17					17
Repurchase of common stock	(70)			(70)					(70)
Share-based compensation expense	21			21					21
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	4,215		32	4,714	281	(708)	26	(328)	4,017	198
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	4,245		32	4,723	309	(708)	24	(331)	4,049	196
Net income/(loss)	98				96				96	2
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	3	[1]								3
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	2	[2]					2		2
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	3	[3]						3	3
Employee stock purchase plan	1			1					1
Dividends to shareholders	(127)				(124)				(124)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(1)			(1)					(1)
Repurchase of common stock	(10)			(10)					(10)
Share-based compensation expense	1			1					1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	4,215		32	4,714	281	(708)	26	(328)	4,017	198
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	3,043		32	4,720	(795)	(779)	11	(342)	2,847	196
Net income/(loss)	(295)				(306)				(306)	11
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(30)	[1]				(31)			(31)	1
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(35)	[2]					(35)		(35)
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	10	[3]						10	10
Employee stock purchase plan	3			3					3
Capital contribution by non-controlling partner	2									2
Divestiture of a non-controlling interest in a consolidated subsidiary, net	(2)									(2)
Dividends to shareholders	(383)			(373)					(373)	(10)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(5)			(5)					(5)
Share-based compensation expense	45			45					45
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	2,353		32	4,390	(1,101)	(810)	(24)	(332)	2,155	198
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	2,988		32	4,501	(629)	(761)	(18)	(336)	2,789	199
Net income/(loss)	(468)				(472)				(472)	4
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(50)	[1]				(49)			(49)	(1)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(6)	[2]					(6)		(6)
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	4	[3]						4	4
Employee stock purchase plan	1			1					1
Dividends to shareholders	(128)			(124)					(124)	(4)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(1)			(1)					(1)
Share-based compensation expense	13			13					13
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 2,353		$ 32	$ 4,390	$ (1,101)	$ (810)	$ (24)	$ (332)	$ 2,155	$ 198

[1] Net of tax of $(7) million and $(1) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $(8) million and $(4) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Net of tax of $2 million and $(1) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $13 million and $(6) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively

[3] Net of tax of $(1) million and zero for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $(2) million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.