A magnetic tape for the recording of digital video signals is constituted by a nonmagnetic base having thereon a magnetic layer of at least one thin magnetic metal film which has an energy product of at least 100 G.cm.Oe, and with the surface roughness of the magnetic tape being at most 0.003 .mu.m in center line average height. Such tape, when used with magnetic heads each having a gap defined between portions of the respective head having a saturation magnetic flux density of at least 14 kG., contribute to the maintenance of an acceptable raw error bit rate below 1.times.10.sup.-4 when recording with a recorded bit area of no more than 1.25 .mu.m.sup.2 /bit.