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, 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)					(96)			(96)	(8)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(33)	[1]					(33)		(33)
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	4							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
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	2,243		32	4,340	(1,216)	(821)	(39)	(245)	2,051	192
Net income/(loss)	576				573				573	3
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(5)					(3)			(3)	(2)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	5	[1]					5		5
Unrealized gain on pension liability, net of tax	3							3	3
Other Comprehensive Income gain/(loss) on disposition, net of tax	374					233		141	374
Dividends to shareholders	(24)			(21)					(21)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(4)			(4)					(4)
Share-based compensation expense	7			7					7
Other	(5)			(8)					(8)	3
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 3,170		$ 32	$ 4,314	$ (643)	$ (591)	$ (34)	$ (101)	$ 2,977	$ 193

[1] Net of tax of $(3) million and $12 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively