Revenues within the Buy segment grew 3.4% ( 6.3% on a constant currency basis) to $3.5bn. Excluding Harris, Buy revenues grew 3.6% on a constant currency basis, driven largely by new client wins and 9.5% growth in emerging markets.

Revenues within the Watch segment increased 20.4% ( 21.3% on a constant currency basis) to $2.8bn. Excluding Arbitron, Watch revenues increased 4.9%, or 5.8% on a constant currency basis, driven by continued strength in Audience Measurement, including Digital, and Marketing Effectiveness.

Mitch Barns, chief executive officer of Nielsen said: “2014 was marked by solid revenue growth, compelling margin expansion, and strong free cash flow generation enabling us to both invest in key growth opportunities and return over $800 million to our shareholders. We are well positioned to drive incremental shareholder value as we lead the media industry toward Total Audience measurement, continue our expansion in emerging markets, and execute on our previously announced plans to deliver close to $1.6 billion back to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks by mid-2016.”

Revenues for the fourth quarter increased 1.4% to $1.6bn, or 5.4% on a constant currency basis compared with the fourth quarter of 2013. Revenues excluding the impact of the Arbitron and Harris acquisitions increased 0.1%, or 4.4% on a constant currency basis.