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, 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
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	2,388		32	4,378	(1,210)	(776)	(19)	(210)	2,195	193
Net income/(loss)	(13)				(18)				(18)	5
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(104)	[1]				(96)			(96)	(8)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(33)	[2]					(33)		(33)
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	4	[3]						4	4
Employee stock purchase plan	1			1					1
Dividends to shareholders	(24)			(21)					(21)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(4)			(4)					(4)
Share-based compensation expense	16			16					16
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 2,231		$ 32	$ 4,370	$ (1,228)	$ (872)	$ (52)	$ (206)	$ 2,044	$ 187

[1] Net of tax of $(3) million and $(4) million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively

[2] Net of tax of $12 million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively

[3] Net of tax of $(1) million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019