Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 863	$ 842
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	277	324
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	206	202
Depreciation and amortization	127	136
Restructuring charges		3
Operating income	253	177
Interest income		1
Interest expense	(80)	(83)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net	(4)	(9)
Other expense, net		(1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	169	85
Provision for income taxes	(60)	(25)
Net income from continuing operations	109	60
Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	467	(73)
Net income/(loss)	576	(13)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	5
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 573	$ (18)
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.30	$ 0.16
Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	1.30	(0.21)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	1.60	(0.05)
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	0.29	0.16
Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	1.30	(0.21)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 1.59	$ (0.05)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	357,944,731	356,389,022
Dilutive shares of common stock	2,244,591	1,272,358
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	360,189,322	357,661,380
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.06	$ 0.06