Storing digital data in video tape dates back to the 80s when studios used to make digital mastering on what was available at the moment: Umatic, Betamax and VH

Storing digital data in video tape dates back to the 80s when studios used to make digital mastering on what was available at the moment: Umatic, Betamax and VHS. Many popular productions from the 80s were in fact mastered on video tape recorders paired to studio grade converters such as the Sony PCM-F1. https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/sony/pcm-f1.htm https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/sony/pcm-f1.htm