Exhibit 10(q)

                       NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                           1996 ACNIELSEN CORPORATION
                       KEY EMPLOYEES' STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


This nonqualified  stock option agreement (the "Award  Agreement")  confirms the
nonqualified  stock option award (the  "Award") made as of December 15, 1999, by
the  Compensation  Committee  (the  "Committee")  of the Board of  Directors  of
ACNielsen  Corporation (the "Company") under the 1996 ACNielsen  Corporation Key
Employees' Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to



                               _____________ (the "Participant")


of  nonqualified  stock options  ("Options") to purchase the number of shares of
the Company's common stock,  par value $0.01 per share,  prior to the expiration
date(s) and at the option price(s) per share, all as set forth below.


The Options are not intended to be incentive stock options within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). These
Options may be exercised in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after the
date(s)  indicated  below with  respect to (i) those  number of shares set forth
opposite such date(s),  plus (ii) those number of shares as to which the Options
could have been exercised earlier but were not so exercised.



      Price           Vesting          Number of         Expiration
    Per Share           Date            Shares              Date
    ---------        ----------       -----------       ------------
     $23.125           12/15/01                           12/15/09
     $23.125           12/15/02                           12/15/09
     $23.125           12/15/03                           12/15/09





<PAGE>

An additional tranche of Options (the "Performance  Options") is granted hereby
as follows:

     Price             Vesting          Number of          Expiration
   Per Share             Date             Shares              Date
  -----------         ---------        -----------        ------------
     23.125            6/15/09                              12/15/09

In the event that,  at any time prior to June 15, 2009,  the "Fair Market Value"
(as  defined in the Plan) of the  Company's  common  stock  attains  $32.75 (the
"Target Price") and such Fair Market Value maintains (or exceeds) such price for
five consecutive trading days (the "Required  Period"),  the Performance Options
will become exercisable as follows:

      Number of Shares             Performance Vesting Date
     ------------------           --------------------------
                                           12/15/01
                                           12/15/02
                                           12/15/03


In the event the Target Price is attained  for the  Required  Period at any time
following a Performance  Vesting Date, the Performance  Options which would have
vested on such  Performance  Vesting Date had the Target Price been attained for
the Required Period prior thereto will become immediately exercisable.

Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this Award  Agreement,  upon the
acquisition  of 80% or more of all  outstanding  shares of Company  common stock
pursuant  to any tender or  exchange  offer for shares of Company  common  stock
(other  than one made by the  Company),  whether  the  Company  does or does not
support  the  offer,   then  all  unvested   Options  will  become   immediately
exercisable.  A tender or exchange  offer filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Form 14D-1 (or successor  form) will be treated  conclusively as a
tender or exchange offer for purposes of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this Award  Agreement,  upon the
occurrence   of  a  "Change  in  Control"  (as  such  term  is  defined  in  the
change-in-control  agreement  entered into by the  Participant and the Company),
then all unvested Options will become immediately exercisable.

Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this Award  Agreement,  upon the
termination of the Participant's employment from the Company without "Cause" (as
such term is defined in The ACNielsen  Corporation  Executive  Transition Plan),
then all unvested Options will (i) become immediately  exercisable,  (ii) remain
exercisable for a two-year period and (iii) terminate thereafter.

<PAGE>

The  Options are issued in  accordance  with and are subject to the terms of the
Plan, which Plan is incorporated  herein by reference,  and are exercisable only
in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. In accordance
with the terms of the Plan, except as waived by the Committee, these Options are
not transferable  otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution
and  are  exercisable  during  the  lifetime  of  the  Participant  only  by the
Participant.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  ACNielsen Corporation has caused this Award Agreement to be
executed in duplicate by its officer thereunto duly authorized.

                                                    ACNIELSEN CORPORATION



                                                    By______________________
                                                        Michael P. Connors
                                                          Vice Chairman

The undersigned hereby accepts and agrees to all the terms and provisions of the
foregoing Award Agreement and acknowledges receipt of (i) a copy of the Plan and
its related prospectus and (ii) a copy of the 1998 Annual Report.




-------------                                        ---------------------
    Date                                                   Participant