PACS 75.50. Ss, 75.75.+a, 81.15.Cd Recording characteristics of underlayers (NiAl/CrMn)/intermediate layer (CoCrTa)/CoCrPtBN thin film media sputter-deposited on polymeric substrates were investigated as functions of the magnetic layer and the stack thicknesses. Even a very small thickness of 10 nm of the magnetic layer appeared to be sufficient to preserve the in-plane H c , and gave rise to the improved recording performances due to primarily the sharper effective head field gradient. The thicknees reduction provided benefits in the fabrication side along with presenting a substantial contribution to the overall recording performance. The overall stack thicknees was reduced down to 70 nm.